Serial Measurement of Regional Cerebral Blood Flow in Patients with Middle Cerebral Artery Stem Occlusion

—Report of Two Cases—

Abstract

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in two patients with middle cerebral artery stem occlusion (one characterized by persistent occlusion and the other by spontaneous recanalization) was measured repeatedly by dynamic single-photon emission computed tomography and ¹³³Xe gas steady-state inhalation. With the exception of complete recanalization in one patient, the pathophysiology in the two cases appeared essentially the same. These cases are described and the problems of measuring and interpreting rCBF in cerebral infarction are addressed. The concept of a “homeostatic mechanism of cerebral energy supply” is also discussed.