Functional vascular volume and blood-brain barrier permeability images by angio-CT in the diagnosis of cerebral lesions.

We performed angio-CT following i.v. administration of an iodinated contrast medium and analyzed the pixel contrast time-density curves from 4 to 10 min postinjection to derive vascular and volume BBB permeability images. This was performed by applying multiple regression analysis of pixel contrast curves versus blood contrast and integrated blood contrast curves. The two regression coefficients, mapped pixel by pixel, correspond respectively to vascular volume and BBB unidirectional transport rate. Initial application in a small number of normal subjects and patients allowed us to characterize areas of steady-state contrast enhancement according to changes of vascular volume and BBB permeability.