MRI lung perfusion 2D dynamic breath-hold technique in patients with severe emphysema.
BACKGROUND
Our aim was to prospectively evaluate a semi-quantitative pulmonary perfusion MR technique using a breath-hold 2D dynamic sequence in patients with severe pulmonary emphysema.


METHODS
Thirty patients with severe emphysema were studied with pulmonary perfusion MRI. Results were compared with those obtained through lung scintigraphy, considered as the gold standard technique. We used Fast Field Echo (FFE) pulse sequences in the coronal and sagittal planes, with paramagnetic contrast agent administration. Ten healthy volunteers were studied as the control group. Three thoracic radiologists independently reviewed all the subjects, evaluating the site and entity of perfusional defects. Peak intensity and apparent mean transit time were calculated.


RESULTS
MRI showed high sensitivity (86.7%) and good specifity (80.0%) in detecting perfusional defects. We observed lower peak signal intensities in emphysematous regions.


CONCLUSIONS
Lung perfusion MR is a potential alternative to Nuclear Medicine in the evaluation of severe pulmonary emphysema.
Sergiacomi
Gianluigi
G
Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, V.le Oxford 81, 00133, Rome, Italy.
Sodani
Giulio
G
Fabiano
Sebastiano
S
Manenti
Guglielmo
G
Spinelli
Alessio
A
Konda
Daniel
D
Di Roma
Mauro
M
Schillaci
Orazio
O
Simonetti
Giovanni
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D004646:Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D006801:Humans; D001239:Inhalation; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010477:Perfusion; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D003287:Contrast Media; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C062402:gadoteridol; D005682:Gadolinium