Simultaneous measurement of cardiac perfusion and permeability in vivo with Synchrotron radiation imaging

The high temporal, spatial and contrast resolution of synchrotron radiation imaging (SYRI) allows the measurement of the residual density of an injected contrast medium with high precision and delivers absolute values. This was exploited with measurements on pigs where it could be shown that the identification and characterization of the relevant compartments and their structures allows to record the time dependent contrast medium density in arteries, the myocardium and the veins separately. With an adapted computer based flow model the absolute local determination of the perfusion and for extracellular contrast media (as Gadovist^®) the permeability through the capillary membrane could be obtained. Model prediction include the option of flow reserve measurement at baseline.