Fig. 3.

Examples of 4-point scoring system for the image evaluation. The evaluation was performed based on the depiction of cortical and deep gray matter, and also the degree of the artifact. The score 0 (poor) represent the overall poor imaging quality with signal defect of cortical perfusion (a: arrows) and the unclearness of the outline of the deep gray matter (a: arrowhead) or severe artifact, the score 1 (moderate) represent the overall slightly poor-moderate imaging quality with only the unclearness of the cortical or deep gray matter perfusion (b: arrows) or moderate artifact, the score 2 (good) represent the overall good image quality with the sufficient depiction of cortical and deep gray matter but only a little artifact was present (c: arrows), and score 3 (excellent) represent the image with overall good image quality with almost no artifact (d). In this figure, case example of pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) with 3D spiral-fast-spin echo (FSE) (a), 2D echo planar imaging (EPI) (b), 3D pseudo-steady state (PSS) (c and d) was respectively used.