Quantitative Analysis of IVIM and DSC Perfusion Metrics in Brain Tumors

Motivation: Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) provides a non-invasive alternative for perfusion imaging, but clinical adoption needs to be facilitated by evaluating quantitative measures for assessing changes in perfusion. Goal(s): To evaluate different statistical ROI measures for the perfusion fraction (f) and relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) and assess their impact on the perfusion estimation. Approach: MRI data of 31 primary tumor patients were analyzed. Four different statistical measures for f and rCBV were estimated in tumor and normal-appearing white matter. Results: The interpercentile range of perfusion estimates captured a homogeneous perfusion estimation in normal-appearing white matter and demonstrated heterogenously increased perfusion in tumor tissue. Impact: The interpercentile range of f and rCBV captured a homogeneous perfusion estimation in normal-appearing white matter and demonstrated heterogenously increased perfusion in tumor tissue. The choice of statistical ROI measure can impact the clinical interpretation of quantitative perfusion metrics.