Computed tomography (ct) perfusion: Basic principles and clinical applications

This chapter discusses the basic principles and clinical applications of computed tomography perfusion (CTP). Analysis of CTP can be based on visual interpretation of perfusion maps or on quantitative perfusion measurements. CT perfusion is clearly a viable alternative to other imaging perfusion modalities. It can be performed quickly with any standard spiral CT scanner, and the perfusion maps can be generated in a short time at the workstation. CT perfusion provides quantitative information on cerebral blood flow (CBF) parameters. It has been validated in many clinical situations against established techniques. The chapter reviews the most frequent clinical applications of the technique, along with some future trends. CTP has been used in a number of applications, notably in acute stroke. CTP techniques have also been applied to brain tumors. CTP has been recently applied to other disease processes, such as normal pressure hydrocephalus, trauma, epilepsy, and arterio-venous malformations.