q-Space analysis of lung morphometry in vivo with hyperpolarized 3He spectroscopy.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the utility of a (3)He spectroscopic q-space technique for detecting changes in lung morphometry in vivo.


METHODS
A diffusion-weighted spectroscopy sequence was used to collect global diffusion data from healthy adults (N = 11), healthy children (N = 5), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients (N = 2) using 40 cc of hyperpolarized (3)He gas within a two second breathhold. Displacement probability profiles (DPP) were obtained by Fourier transformation of diffusion data with respect to q. A bi-Gaussian model was used to decompose the DPPs into narrow and broad components, characterized by root-mean-square displacements X(rms1) and X(rms2), respectively.


RESULTS
In healthy adults, the narrow component (X(rms,1)) of the DPP had a mean displacement of 188 +/- 10 microm, slightly less than the reported average size of the alveoli. The broad component (X(rms,2)) had a mean value of 474 +/- 44 microm, comparable to the diameter of the respiratory bronchioles in the acinus. In children, both X(rms1) (167 +/- 4 microm) and X(rms2) (382 +/- 22 microm) compared to healthy adults (P < 0.01). In COPD patients, the mean displacements were elevated (X(rms1): 265 +/- 71 microm; X(rms2): 530 +/- 109 microm) compared to healthy adults. Excellent correlation was found between rms displacements and age (age vs. X(rms,1): r = 0.78, P < 0.001; age vs. X(rms,2): r = 0.90, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The q-space parameters agreed remarkably well with published alveolar morphometry data. The results suggest that the technique may be sensitive to disease, as evident from the elevated mean displacements in COPD patients compared to healthy volunteers. Detailed lung microstructural information can be obtained using a very low volume of inhaled (3)He.
Shanbhag
Dattesh D
DD
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
Altes
Talissa A
TA
Miller
G Wilson
GW
Mata
Jaime F
JF
Knight-Scott
Jack
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006371:Helium / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007554:Isotopes / Q000494:pharmacology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000473:pathology*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000473:pathology
D007554:Isotopes; D006371:Helium