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Normal ranges and test-retest reproducibility of flow and velocity parameters in intracranial arteries measured with phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging

  • Functional Neuroradiology
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Abstract

Introduction

The purpose of the present study was to investigate normal ranges and test-retest reproducibility of phase-contrast MRI (PC-MRI)-measured flow and velocity parameters in intracranial arteries.

Methods

Highest flow (HF), lowest flow (LF), peak systolic velocity (PSV), and end diastolic velocity (EDV) were measured at two dates in the anterior (ACA), middle (MCA), and posterior (PCA) cerebral arteries of 30 healthy volunteers using two-dimensional PC-MRI at 3 T. Least detectable difference (LDD) was calculated.

Results

In the left ACA, HF was (mean (range, LDD)) 126 ml/min (36–312, 59 %), LF 61 ml/min (0–156, 101 %), PSV 64 cm/s (32–141, 67 %), and EDV 35 cm/s (18–55, 42 %); in the right ACA, HF was 154 ml/min (42–246, 49 %), LF 77 ml/min (0–156, 131 %), PSV 75 cm/s (26–161, 82 %), and EDV 39 cm/s (7–59, 67 %). In the left MCA, HF was 235 ml/min (126–372, 35 %), LF 116 ml/min (42–186, 48 %), PSV 90 cm/s (55–183, 39 %), and EDV 46 cm/s (20–66, 28 %); in the right MCA, HF was 238 ml/min (162–342, 44 %), LF 120 ml/min (72–216, 48 %), PSV 88 cm/s (55–141, 35 %), and EDV 45 cm/s (26–67, 23 %). In the left PCA, HF was 108 ml/min (42–168, 54 %), LF 53 ml/min (18–108, 64 %), PSV 50 cm/s (24–77, 63 %), and EDV 28 cm/s (14–40, 45 %); in the right PCA, HF was 98 ml/min (30–162, 49 %), LF 49 ml/min (12–84, 55 %), PSV 47 cm/s (27–88, 59 %), and EDV 27 cm/s (16–41, 45 %).

Conclusion

PC-MRI-measured flow and velocity parameters in the main intracranial arteries have large normal ranges. Reproducibility is highest in MCA.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by research grants from the Swedish Stroke Foundation, Uppsala County Council and Philips Healthcare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden

    Maria Correia de Verdier & Johan Wikström

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  1. Maria Correia de Verdier
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  2. Johan Wikström
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Correspondence to Maria Correia de Verdier.

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We declare that all human and animal studies have been approved by the Institutional Review Board and have therefore been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments. We declare that all patients gave informed consent prior to inclusion in this study.

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We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Correia de Verdier, M., Wikström, J. Normal ranges and test-retest reproducibility of flow and velocity parameters in intracranial arteries measured with phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging. Neuroradiology 58, 521–531 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-016-1661-6

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