Rapid Measurement of Oxygen Extraction Fraction (OEF) Maps using a Combined Multiple Gradient & Spin Echo Bolus Contrast Sequence

Thomas Christen¹, Heiko Schmiedeskamp¹, Matus Straka¹, Roland Bammer¹, Greg Zaharchuk¹

The objective of the study was to translate a quantitative BOLD approach originally designed to assess blood oxygenation in the rat brain into a clinical protocol. The technique is based on extraction of the oxygenation information from T2* measurements using a mathematical model and measurements of T2, B0 and the cerebral blood volume (CBV). We propose here to use an EPI multiple gradient and spin echo sequence to follow the bolus of a contrast agent. Baseline scans were used for T2*/T2 estimates whereas PWI was used to derive CBV maps. 4 healthy subjects and one stroke patient were scanned.