title: Feasibility of pulmonary ventilation visualization with aerosolized magnetic resonance contrast media.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate a new approach to noninvasive magnetic resonance assessment of human pulmonary ventilation with aerosolized Gd-DTPA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen experimental procedures were carried out in 15 healthy volunteers on a 1.5-T imager. For a timespan of 10 minutes, the subjects spontaneously inhaled a commercially available Gd-DTPA magnetic resonance contrast agent in aerosolized form through an inflatable facemask. Gd-DTPA was aerosolized by means of a small-particle generator with integrated heater to increase aerosol production. Respiratory gated dynamic T1-weighted turbo spin echo images were obtained before and after contrast agent aerosol administration. After nebulization, homogeneity of aerosol distribution was graded by 2 experienced readers and pulmonary signal intensity (SI) changes were measured in corresponding regions of both lungs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pulmonary ventilation visualization, and hence contrast agent delivery, was rated homogeneously distributed by both readers in 14 of 15 cases (93.3%) and slightly inhomogeneous in 1 case (6.7%). Pulmonary SI increased by an average of +37% +/- 8.5 (range, 10-48%). Allergic responses were not noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human ventilation imaging with aerosolized gadolinium-chelates is viable. The presented modality might evolve as an alternative to current nuclear medicine and magnetic resonance image ventilation imaging procedures, avoiding radiation exposure while offering functional ventilation assessment with an acceptable temporal and spatial resolution. Nevertheless, further evaluation is required to define the potential of gadolinium-based ventilation magnetic resonance imaging in illustrating lung disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Technology Aachen, Aachen, Germany. haage@rad.rwth-aachen.de
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Haage
authors.forename: Süleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karaagac
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spüntrup
authors.forename: Huu Tri
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Truong
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Rolf W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Günther
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA