Weekend Educational Course:
Advances in Quantitative MRI of Perfusion
Organizers: Afonso C. Silva, Ph.D. and Matthias J.P. van Osch, Ph.D.
 
Skill Level: Advanced
 
Saturday, 18 April 2009
14:00 - 18:00

OVERVIEW
Cerebral blood flow is of critical importance for the survival of brain tissue because it supports the brain’s energy, metabolism and function. Blood flow measurements are an important way to assess brain tissue viability under normal and pathologic states. This advanced half day course will cover novel techniques and applications for measuring and interpreting cerebral perfusion maps under normal physiology and disease. The two sessions will cover measurements of perfusion by bolus tracking and arterial spin labeling.
 
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES     
Upon completion of this case based session, participants should be able to:
  • List the major MRI techniques to measure cerebral blood flow;
  • Describe the latest technical advances in arterial spin labeling (ASL) and dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) techniques to measure cerebral blood flow and to discuss their current limitations;
  • Describe the current status of methods to quantify perfusion and perfusion-related parameters in the healthy brain, and to compare the methodology to that required for robust quantification in the diseased brain;
  • Recognize the utility of MRI of brain perfusion to the diagnostics and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and brain tumors, and to list its use in pediatric applications; and
  • List non-conventional methods to measure brain function, understand and discuss their current limitations and predict their future applicability.
 

Saturday, 18 April 2009
     
  Measurement of Perfusion by Bolus Tracking  
14:00 The Basics Leif Østergaard, M.D., Ph.D.
14:25  The Issues I: Can We Measure Perfusion In Normal Volunteers? Ona Wu, Ph.D.
14:50 The Issues II: Can We Measure Perfusion In Patients? Fernando Calamante, Ph.D.
15:15 The Promises: In Which Clinical Protocols Should It Always Be Included? A. Gregory Sorensen, M.D.
15:40 Break - Meet the Teachers  
     
  Measurements of Perfusion by Arterial Spin Labeling  
16:00 The Basics David Alsop, Ph.D.
16:25 The Issues I: Can We Measure Perfusion In Normal Subjects? Xavier G. Golay, Ph.D.
16:50 The Issues II: Can We Measure Perfusion In Patients? Jiongjiong Wang, Ph.D.
17:15 The Promises: In Which Clinical Protocols Should It Always Be Included? Jeroen Hendrikse, Ph.D.
17:40 Panel Discussion  
17:55 Adjournment - Meet the Teachers