. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2020 Aug 1.

Published in final edited form as: Transl Stroke Res. 2020 Jan 14;11(4):628–642. doi: 10.1007/s12975-019-00765-0

Table 4.

Techniques commonly used to evaluate cerebral perfusion in clinical research

Techniques	Main method	Advantages	Disadvantages
PET	Detection of ¹⁵O-H₂O distribution with CBF ⁸⁹	• Dynamic • Multiple metabolic factors	• Unclear anatomical structure • Radioactive

MRI	• Dynamic susceptibility contrast of contrast agent ⁹⁰ • Arterial spin labeling ⁹¹	• Clear anatomical structure • Multiple perfusion parameter (MTT, TTP, CBV, CBF)	• Non dynamic • Avoiding special metals

CT	Gamma-variate fits applied to the vascular time-density curves after injection of contrast agent ⁹²	• Multiple perfusion parameter (MTT, TTP, CBV, CBF) • Wide availability	• Contrast-noise ratio • Radioactive • Risk of allergy and acute kidney injury

TCD	The Doppler effect of pulsed wave Doppler to image vessels at various depths ⁹³	• Real-time detection of CBF • Repeat assessment/follow-up • Non-invasive, radiation-free	• Quantitative difficulties

LSCI	The random granular effect produced by a laser when illuminates a diffuse surface ⁹⁴	• Excellent spatial and temporal resolution on blood flow • Dynamic and in real time	• Invasive and limited clinical application • Stationary scatteres affect the measure

MTT: mean transit time, TTP: time to peak, CBV: cerebral blood volume, TCD: transcranial doppler, LSCI: laser speckle contrast imaging