Proton NMR imaging of cerebral blood flow using H217O

Abstract

Cerebral blood flow was quantitatively mapped by monitoring the cerebral washout of H₂ ¹⁷O using rapid, single-shot proton NMR imaging. H₂ ¹⁷O acts as a freely diffusible contrast agent for proton imaging via its scalar-coupled term, enhancing T₂ relaxation. Measured values for CBF ranged from 29 to 106 ml/min/100 g over a range of arterial pCO₂ between 23 and 81 Torr. © 1991 Academic Press, Inc.