SIR 2024
Imaging
Sandeep Murthy, M.S. (he/him/his)
Medical Student
University of Virginia School of Medicine
Financial relationships: Full list of relationships is listed on the CME information page.
Luke R. Wilkins, MD, FSIR
Associate Professor
University of Virginia
Financial relationships: Full list of relationships is listed on the CME information page.
Christopher Kramer, MD
Chief of the Cardiovascular Medicine
University of Virginia
Disclosure information not submitted.
Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a non-contrast imaging modality that can be useful for measurements of muscle perfusion. ASL additionally has shown to discriminate between peripheral arterial disease and normal patients.{5} The underlying concept is to acquire, tag, and control images in which inflowing arterial blood has different states of magnetization while signal from static tissue is unchanged. The intensity of the difference between the control and tag images is directly related to perfusion.{5} This allows for a quantifiable measure of perfusion without introducing unnecessary contrast. Image acquisition can occur through one of three methods: a single 180-degree pulse, a radiofrequency pulse, or multiple repeated pulses. The benefits and limitations of each be further discussed.
Conclusion and/or Teaching Points:
Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a non-contrast imaging modality that can be used to assess muscular perfusion in clinical trials. ASL has promise to serve as a clinical endpoint as new research brings to life novel therapies to treat arterial vascular disease.