Title:Advances in Imaging Techniques of the Blood-brain Barrier and Clinical
Application
Volume: 20
Author(s): Jianing Cui, Wenjin Bian, Jun Wang and Jinliang Niu*
Affiliation:
- Department of Radiology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, 382 Wuyi Road, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
Keywords:
Blood–brain barrier, Imaging techniques, Clinical application, Exogenous contrast agents, Endogenous contrast agents, BBB dysfunctions.
Abstract: The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is an important structure that maintains the normal function of the central nervous system (CNS). The functional
structure of BBB is closely related to diseases of CNS, including degenerative diseases, brain tumours, traumatic brain injury, stroke, etc. Imaging
methods were commonly used to monitor the integrity of BBB, such as DCE-MRI, DSC-MRI, and PET, this contributes to understand the process
of related diseases and develop appropriate treatment options. In recent years, many studies had shown that the MRI methods (ASL, IVIM, CEST,
etc.) could evaluate blood-brain barrier function, which use endogenous contrast agents and become an increasingly great concern. Another image
methods (FUS, uWB-eMPs) can open up the normal BBB, allowing macromolecular drugs across the locally opening BBB, which could be
beneficial to the treatment of some brain diseases. In this review, we briefly introduce the theory of BBB imaging modalities and its clinical
application.
