CO2 and O2 reactivity in brain gliomas

Motivation: Current clinical practice assesses baseline vascular features and cerebrovascular reactivity with multiple techniques that involve the use of injected contrast and radioactive tracers. Obtaining this information requires numerous tests and visits, which increases patient stress and healthcare costs. Goal(s): Our goal was to determine whether a multiparametric scan could conveniently and economically assess glioma hemodynamics with no exogenous contrast. Approach: The technique involves sequential manipulation of CO2 and O2 in inspired gas while collecting BOLD MRI images to obtain CVR, vCBV, and BAT maps. Results: Multiparametric maps correctly differentiated tumor and normal tissue with characteristics that may inform tumor classification. Impact: We showed that an efficient multiparametric scan can map different vascular properties. These maps allow for tumor and healthy tissue differentiation and show qualitative traits that potentially informs tumor characteristics which could aid in the diagnostic evaluation of glioma patients.