Reproducibility of intracranial vascular pulsatility on 3D cine black-blood MRI

Motivation: This research investigates the lesser-explored domain of lumen area changes in intracranial vascular pulsatility, providing insight into cerebral vasculature's mechanical behavior. Goal(s): To employ cine black-blood MRI for delineating and quantifying intracranial artery pulsatility by monitoring cardiac cycle-induced lumen variations. Approach: We utilized a sophisticated vessel analysis system to discern pulsatility within the lumen and adjacent tissues, validating our findings with reproducibility scans. Results: Cine black-blood imaging successfully visualized intracranial vascular pulsatility. The method displayed robust reproducibility in detecting lumen area changes, proving comparable to velocity pulsatility measurements. Impact: This study illuminates the often-overlooked aspect of lumen area pulsatility, with implications for a holistic assessment of vascular health and disease.