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Brain perfusion imaging using magnetic resonance

IN THIS ISSUE we welcome the publication of the manuscripts that were developed from the invited papers to the international workshop entitled “Quantitative Cerebral Perfusion using MRI: A Technical Perspective,” sponsored by the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), and held in Venice, Italy, March 21–23, 2004. This collection comprises 12 manuscripts on perfusion MRI that were written and submitted by the invited speakers of the workshop. The manuscripts represent an expanded version of the written syllabus of the workshop and were prepared under the leadership of two of the workshop organizers, Thomas E. Conturo, MD, PhD, (also serving as guest editor of this collection), Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA, and Fernando Calamante, PhD, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK. Next, the manuscripts underwent review by the editorial board of JMRI. This scientific symposium was designed to describe and review current methods of quantitative cerebral perfusion imaging in the human brain using MRI, to evaluate different methods, to describe new developments, and to assess clinical applications and future directions. The brain was selected as the organ of choice because of the unique technical and tracer-kinetic issues involved with imaging the blood supply to the brain. The focus of the workshop and the invited manuscripts concentrated on the two most common methods for quantitative perfusion of the brain using MRI, namely: 1) dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) and 2) arterial spin labeling (ASL). Publication of these workshop papers follows prior publication in JMRI of articles derived from other ISMRM-sponsored workshops. Earlier issues have published workshop reports, including “Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Multiple Sclerosis: Consensus Report of the White Matter Study Group,” May 2002, and “Magnetic Resonance Techniques for the In Vivo Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis Pathology: Consensus Report of the White Matter Study Group,” June 2005. It is significant to note that the current publication of the brain perfusion workshop papers will be followed by publication of a special issue entitled “Clinical Potential of Brain Mapping Using MRI,” with Peter Jezzard, PhD, Oxford, UK, and Richard B. Buxton, PhD, San Diego, California, USA, serving as guest editors. As usual, all are invited to respond to the content of these articles, with comments that could serve as the basis for letters to the editor and continuing dialogue in this journal on this topic. Other special issues that are in preparation include: Frontiers in Musculoskeletal Imaging, A Review of MR Angiography, MRI Safety Update, and Interventional MRI Update. In addition, future issues of the journal will have increasing numbers of review articles, many of them resulting from manuscripts prepared from the teaching sessions and categorical courses at the annual meeting of the ISMRM. Again, any comments related to the utility and value of review articles and special issues in clinical applications and clinical investigations using MRI are invited and will be considered for publication as an editorial comment or letter to the editor in JMRI.