Improved techniques for presenting information from cerebral blood flow maps obtained with the xenon/CT method

With the recently developed Xe/CT method for measuring cerebral blood flow, high-resolution flow maps are possible. These images contain a large amount of information not readily accessible to the radiologist through the standard film format. In this investigation, morphologic filtering techniques are used to provide the clinician with easily interpretable images and quantitative information. The partition coefficient (''lambda'') maps are used to separate white and gray matter (by means of the above mathematical techniques), and are subsequently superimposed on the flow maps combining thus tissue and flow information. In addition, these compounded images contain isoflow lines for rapid flow determination. This paper illustrates this technique with flow maps from several head-injury patients