Comparison of two dimensional and three dimensional CBF measurements in stroke patients

The purpose of this study is to compare the detectability of the reduction in cerebral blood flow (CBF) using the two versus the three dimensional technique of CBF measurement. Both techniques were simultaneously carried out 85 times on 52 stroke patients. In the two dimensional technique, CBF was measured by the Xe-133 inhalation method and the value was calculated by the initial slope index. In the three dimensional technique, CBF was measured by single photon emission CT with Xe-133 inhalation method. CBF reduction was studied in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory on a CBF map in both techniques. Additionally, mean CBF was also calculated for the same territory. On the CBF map, the CBF reduction was shown in 25 of 85 measurements with the two dimensional technique and in 41 of 85 with the three dimensional technique. In comparing the imagings of both techniques, the CBF reduction seen extensively along the cortical surface and in the entire MCA territory with the three dimensional technique was also detected with the two dimensional technique. However, focal CBF reduction observed at the cortical surface and in the deep cerebral tissue with the three dimensional technique was not detected with the two dimensional technique. In order to evaluate both techniques quantitatively, we calculated the ratio of the mean CBF difference between the MCA territories of both hemispheres to mean CBF in the non-affected MCA territory. This ratio represented the asymmetry index. Firstly, the relationship between asymmetry index and the imaging of CBF reduction on the CBF map was studied.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)