Influence of partial volume on venous output and arterial input function.

BACKGROUND CT perfusion (CTP) is an important diagnostic tool for the imaging of cerebral hemodynamics. To obtain quantitative values of cerebral blood volume (CBV), blood flow (CBF), and mean transit time (MTT), measurement of the arterial input function (AIF) is required. To correct for partial volume effects (PVEs), it is common to normalize the AIF with respect to the venous output function (VOF). This correction assumes that measurement of the VOF is unhampered by PVEs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of PVE on the measurement of the AIF and VOF and, consequently, on the absolute perfusion parameters. METHODS In 10 patients the mean area under the curve (AUC) of the AIF and VOF were quantified for 3-, 6-, and 12-mm-thick sections. Differences in the mean (1) AUC of the VOF, (2) AUC of the AIF, and (3) width of the AIF were compared for the 3 section thicknesses, and the influence on the absolute values of CBV, CBF, and MTT were studied. RESULTS With thinner sections, the AUC of the VOF and the AIF increased significantly and the width of the AIF decreased slightly. Differences in AUC between the 3 section thicknesses were larger for the AIF than for the VOF. CONCLUSION PVEs affect not only the AIF, but also the VOF. This results in an overestimation of CBV and CBF when a thicker section is used. To avoid PVE, VOF measurements should be performed at lower section thicknesses.