Magnetic resonance lung function--a breakthrough for lung imaging and functional assessment? A phantom study and clinical trial.
BACKGROUND
Chronic lung diseases are a major issue in public health. A serial pulmonary assessment using imaging techniques free of ionizing radiation and which provides early information on local function impairment would therefore be a considerably important development. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful tool for the static and dynamic imaging of many organs. Its application in lung imaging however, has been limited due to the low water content of the lung and the artefacts evident at air-tissue interfaces. Many attempts have been made to visualize local ventilation using the inhalation of hyperpolarized gases or gadolinium aerosol responding to MRI. None of these methods are applicable for broad clinical use as they require specific equipment.


METHODS
We have shown previously that low-field MRI can be used for static imaging of the lung. Here we show that mathematical processing of data derived from serial MRI scans during the respiratory cycle produces good quality images of local ventilation without any contrast agent. A phantom study and investigations in 85 patients were performed.


RESULTS
The phantom study proved our theoretical considerations. In 99 patient investigations good correlation (r = 0.8; p < or = 0.001) was seen for pulmonary function tests and MR ventilation measurements. Small ventilation defects were visualized.


CONCLUSIONS
With this method, ventilation defects can be diagnosed long before any imaging or pulmonary function test will indicate disease. This surprisingly simple approach could easily be incorporated in clinical routine and may be a breakthrough for lung imaging and functional assessment.
Zapke
Maren
M
University Children's Hospital, University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Loschgestr, 15, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. mnwagner@gmx.de
Topf
Hans-Georg
HG
Zenker
Martin
M
Kuth
Rainer
R
Deimling
Michael
M
Kreisler
Peter
P
Rauh
Manfred
M
Chefd'hotel
Christophe
C
Geiger
Bernhard
B
Rupprecht
Thomas
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D011859:Radiography; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests