Application of MR perfusion imaging in assessment of muscle perfusion in hindª²limb ischemia model of rabbit

    MENG Liª²Min, ZHANG Wanª²Shi, SONG Yunª²Long, WU Bing, WANG Dong, BI Yongª²Min£¬ZHU Hongª²Xian

    Postgraduate College, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¬ðan 710033, China, Department of CT & MR, Airforce General Hospital, Beijing 100036, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM£ºTo evaluate the application of magnetic resonance (MR) perfusion weighted imaging in the assessment of muscle perfusion in hindª²limb ischemia model of rabbit. METHODS: Ischemia was induced in right hind limbs of 16 New Zealand white rabbits by complete excision of femoral artery. Before and 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, 70 d after the model establishment, MR perfusion scan was performed on models respectively and the percent MR signal enhancement of the region of interest was plotted to draw a timeª²enhancement curve. The perfusion curve and parameters (enhancement onset time, peak value and slope rate) were analyzed. RESULTS: Following femoral artery excision, a rapid reduction of muscle perfusion in right hindª²limb was observed. Perfusion recovered very slowly during the first 7 d postª²excision and faster perfusion recovery was observed within 14 to 70 d, but at last perfusion didn¬ðt reach the normal level. CONCLUSION: MR perfusion imaging is a safe, noninvasive, semiª²quantitative and relatively accurate technique to assess timeª²dependent changes of muscle perfusion in hindª²limb ischemia model of rabbit. ......