title: [Microstructure of the lung: diffusion measurement of hyperpolarized 3Helium].
abstract: Imaging methods to study the lung are traditionally based on x-ray or on radioactive contrast agents. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has only limited applications for lung imaging because of the low tissue density of protons concentration of hydrogen atoms, which are usually the basis for the imaging. The introduction of hyperpolarized noble gases as a contrast agent in MRI has opened new possibilities for lung diagnosis. The present paper describes this new technique. Diffusion-weighted MRI for assessment of the lung microstructure is presented here as an example of the new possibilities of functional imaging. Studies to determine the sensitivity of the diffusion measurement and regarding the correlation with traditionally established methods are also presented, along with results of the measurement of the reproducibility determined in a clinical pilot study on healthy volunteers and patients. Furthermore, a pilot measurement of the 3He diffusion tensor in the lung is presented.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie, Bereich Medizinische Physik, Universitätsklinikum Mainz.
authors.forename: Andreas E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Morbach
authors.forename: Klaus K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Gast
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmiedeskamp
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herweling
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Windirsch
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dahmen
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ley
authors.forename: Claus-Peter
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Heussel
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Heil
authors.forename: Hans-Ulrich
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Kauczor
authors.forename: Wolfgang G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Schreiber
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D014316:Tritium