SPECT and MRI Evaluation of Cerebrovascular Reactivity with CO<sub>2</sub> Inhalation—A Preliminary Study

Assessment of cerebrovascular function is crucial for managing neurological disorders, with cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurement being key. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), a traditional method, uses radiation exposure. Blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance...

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Main Authors: Min-Gyu Song, Jeong-Min Shim, Young-Don Son, Yeong-Bae Lee, Chang-Ki Kang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/10/5352
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author Min-Gyu Song
Jeong-Min Shim
Young-Don Son
Yeong-Bae Lee
Chang-Ki Kang
author_facet Min-Gyu Song
Jeong-Min Shim
Young-Don Son
Yeong-Bae Lee
Chang-Ki Kang
author_sort Min-Gyu Song
collection DOAJ
description Assessment of cerebrovascular function is crucial for managing neurological disorders, with cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurement being key. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), a traditional method, uses radiation exposure. Blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) is a non-invasive cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) alternative, but direct SPECT-MRI CO<sub>2</sub> comparisons for MRI’s replacement potential are limited. This study directly compared CVR from SPECT and MRI CO<sub>2</sub> in nine healthy participants. Delay-based MRI (tcMRI) with stimulus timing correction was analyzed alongside conventional MRI. Results showed no significant CVR differences between SPECT and tcMRI (<i>p</i> = 0.688) or SPECT and conventional MRI (<i>p</i> = 0.813), indicating comparable overall CVR. However, tcMRI significantly differed from conventional MRI (<i>p</i> = 0.016) and showed a greater similarity to SPECT. Regionally, the largest CVR differences were observed between tcMRI and conventional MRI, particularly in the cingulate cortex, frontal lobe, and basal ganglia. These discrepancies suggest that tcMRI may capture subtle CVR abnormalities not detected by conventional MRI. The findings support the clinical utility of CO<sub>2</sub>-MRI, especially with stimulus timing correction, as a safe, repeatable, and radiation-free alternative to SPECT. In particular, tcMRI may offer advantages for repeated CVR assessments in long-term clinical monitoring.
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spelling doaj-art-96077e5cfe3f42989e200b1f33358d192025-08-20T03:47:48ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-05-011510535210.3390/app15105352SPECT and MRI Evaluation of Cerebrovascular Reactivity with CO<sub>2</sub> Inhalation—A Preliminary StudyMin-Gyu Song0Jeong-Min Shim1Young-Don Son2Yeong-Bae Lee3Chang-Ki Kang4Department of Health Science, Graduate School, Gachon University, Incheon 21936, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Neuroscience, Gachon Advanced Institute for Health Sciences & Technology (GAIHST), Gachon University, Incheon 21999, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, College of IT Convergence, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Neuroscience, Gachon Advanced Institute for Health Sciences & Technology (GAIHST), Gachon University, Incheon 21999, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Health Science, Graduate School, Gachon University, Incheon 21936, Republic of KoreaAssessment of cerebrovascular function is crucial for managing neurological disorders, with cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurement being key. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), a traditional method, uses radiation exposure. Blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) is a non-invasive cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) alternative, but direct SPECT-MRI CO<sub>2</sub> comparisons for MRI’s replacement potential are limited. This study directly compared CVR from SPECT and MRI CO<sub>2</sub> in nine healthy participants. Delay-based MRI (tcMRI) with stimulus timing correction was analyzed alongside conventional MRI. Results showed no significant CVR differences between SPECT and tcMRI (<i>p</i> = 0.688) or SPECT and conventional MRI (<i>p</i> = 0.813), indicating comparable overall CVR. However, tcMRI significantly differed from conventional MRI (<i>p</i> = 0.016) and showed a greater similarity to SPECT. Regionally, the largest CVR differences were observed between tcMRI and conventional MRI, particularly in the cingulate cortex, frontal lobe, and basal ganglia. These discrepancies suggest that tcMRI may capture subtle CVR abnormalities not detected by conventional MRI. The findings support the clinical utility of CO<sub>2</sub>-MRI, especially with stimulus timing correction, as a safe, repeatable, and radiation-free alternative to SPECT. In particular, tcMRI may offer advantages for repeated CVR assessments in long-term clinical monitoring.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/10/5352cerebrovascular reactivityCO<sub>2</sub>magnetic resonance imagingsingle photon emission computed tomography
spellingShingle Min-Gyu Song
Jeong-Min Shim
Young-Don Son
Yeong-Bae Lee
Chang-Ki Kang
SPECT and MRI Evaluation of Cerebrovascular Reactivity with CO<sub>2</sub> Inhalation—A Preliminary Study
Applied Sciences
cerebrovascular reactivity
CO<sub>2</sub>
magnetic resonance imaging
single photon emission computed tomography
title SPECT and MRI Evaluation of Cerebrovascular Reactivity with CO<sub>2</sub> Inhalation—A Preliminary Study
title_full SPECT and MRI Evaluation of Cerebrovascular Reactivity with CO<sub>2</sub> Inhalation—A Preliminary Study
title_fullStr SPECT and MRI Evaluation of Cerebrovascular Reactivity with CO<sub>2</sub> Inhalation—A Preliminary Study
title_full_unstemmed SPECT and MRI Evaluation of Cerebrovascular Reactivity with CO<sub>2</sub> Inhalation—A Preliminary Study
title_short SPECT and MRI Evaluation of Cerebrovascular Reactivity with CO<sub>2</sub> Inhalation—A Preliminary Study
title_sort spect and mri evaluation of cerebrovascular reactivity with co sub 2 sub inhalation a preliminary study
topic cerebrovascular reactivity
CO<sub>2</sub>
magnetic resonance imaging
single photon emission computed tomography
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/10/5352
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