Operating characteristics of hyperpolarized 3He and arterial spin tagging in MR imaging of ventilation and perfusion in healthy subjects.
OBJECTIVE
The authors tested the feasibility of a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging method combining the use of hyperpolarized helium 3 (3He) for ventilation imaging and an arterial spin-tagging sequence for perfusion imaging in six healthy human subjects.


METHODS
High-resolution sagittal images depicting 3He distribution were acquired after the subjects' inhalation of 500 mL of laser-hyperpolarized 3He produced by spin-exchange optical pumping. Perfusion MR imaging was performed with a steady-state arterial spin-tagging sequence that enabled the acquisition of three-dimensional images of pulmonary perfusion without the need for subject breath holding.


RESULTS
The 3He ventilation images display, with high signal intensity and detailed anatomic localization, the airspace of the lung parenchyma. The signal intensity on the perfusion images decreased by 23.2% with the use of arterial spin tagging. Ventilation and perfusion were matched, as is expected in healthy subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
This method may have important applications in the assessment of lung function, enabling the calculation of regional ventilation-perfusion ratios. It may also aid in the selection of candidates for lung volume-reduction surgery.
Rizi
Rahim R
RR
Department of Radiology, Metabolic Magnetic Resonance Research and Computing Center, Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
Lipson
David A
DA
Dimitrov
Ivan E
IE
Ishii
Masaru
M
Roberts
David A
DA
D000328:Adult; D006371:Helium; D006801:Humans; D007554:Isotopes; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio
D007554:Isotopes; D006371:Helium