What Is Homogeneous Perfusion?

Perfusion is a measure of the blood flow through a tissue or organ.

Perfusion refers to the amount of blood passing through a tissue or organ at a given time. Because blood carries oxygen to and removes waste products from the body's cells, perfusion is a key indicator of an organ's health, and may provide clues to the cause of health problems.

Homogeneous Perfusion

Reduced blood flow can result in ischemia.

A tissue, organ or limb is said to be homogeneously perfused if blood flows uniformly throughout it. Non-homogeneous perfusion is also called "heterogeneous perfusion." Decreased perfusion, or hypoperfusion, of tissue can lead to oxygen deprivation, or ischemia.

Measurement

MRI can measure perfusion.

Contrast-enhanced imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or scintography can measure perfusion. Laser doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) is a method of measuring perfusion that does not require the injection of a contrast agent, but it does not allow visualization of blood flow in deep tissue.

Non-Homogeneous Perfusion

Non-homogeneous perfusion of the heart may indicate coronary disease.

In some cases, non-homogeneous perfusion results from normal metabolic changes like increased oxygen demand in working muscles. However, it can also indicate serious medical conditions. Areas of decreased perfusion in the heart, brain or lungs may indicate heart disease, stroke or emphysema, respectively. Areas of increased perfusion may indicate tumor development.

References

• "Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain and Spine, Volume 1"; Scott W. Atlas; 2008
• "Coronary Blood Flow: Mechanics, Distribution, and Control"; Jos A. E. Spaan; 1991
• "Principles of Cerebrovascular Disease"; Harold P. Adams; 2006
• "Cardiac Imaging: A Multimodality Approach"; Manfred Thelen, Raimund Erbel, Karl-Friedrich Kreitner, Joerg Barkhausen; 2009
• "Cardiovascular Research": Origins of Heterogeneity in Tissue Perfusion and Metabolism; Axel R. Pries, Timothy W. Secomb; Feb. 2009

Resources

• "Cancer Imaging: Lung and Breast Carcinomas"; M. A. Hayat; 2008
• "Living with Coronary Heart Disease: A Guide for Patients and Families"; Jerome E. Granato; 2008
• "Pulmonary Embolism"; M. Morpurgo; 1994
• "Proceedings of SPIE": Measurement of Blood Perfusion Using Photoacoustic, Ultrasound and Strain Imaging