Peranan Sekuen Arterial Spin Labelling (ASL) pada pemeriksaan MRI Brain Perfusi dengan Kasus Stroke Iskemik di RSUP Surabaya

Ischemic stroke is a disorder of cerebral blood flow that can cause brain tissue damage, thus requiring imaging examinations capable of providing structural and perfusion information. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can evaluate tissue changes through various sequences, while Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) provides information on cerebral perfusion without the use of exogenous contrast agents. This study aims to analyze the brain MRI examination procedure in cases of ischemic stroke and to identify the role of ASL sequences in providing information on cerebral blood flow (CBF). The study employed a qualitative descriptive design, with MRI radiographers who were directly involved in brain MRI examinations of patients with ischemic stroke serving as informants. Data were collected through interviews and analyzed through data organization, reduction, categorization based on themes, descriptive presentation, and drawing of conclusions. The results showed that brain MRI examinations include patient preparation, positioning, and the acquisition of several MRI sequences, namely DWI, T2 FLAIR, T2-weighted, T1-weighted, MRA, and ASL. The type of ASL used is pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL). The pCASL sequence is used to assess CBF and provides cerebral perfusion information that complements the anatomical, diffusion, and vascular information from other MRI sequences without the use of contrast media.