title: Rapid 3D in vivo 1H human lung respiratory imaging at 1.5 T using ultra-fast balanced steady-state free precession.
abstract: To introduce a reproducible, nonenhanced 1H MRI method for rapid in vivo functional assessment of the whole lung at 1.5 Tesla (T).
  
  
  
  At different respiratory volumes, the pulmonary signal of ultra-fast steady-state free precession (ufSSFP) follows an adapted sponge model, characterized by a respiratory index α. From the model, α reflects local ventilation-related information, is virtually independent from the lung density and thus from the inspiratory phase and breathing amplitude. Respiratory α-mapping is evaluated for healthy volunteers and patients with obstructive lung disease from a set of five consecutive 3D ultra-fast steady-state free precession (ufSSFP) scans performed in breath-hold and at different inspiratory volumes. For the patients, α-maps were compared with CT, dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI), and Fourier decomposition (FD).
  
  
  
  In healthy volunteers, respiratory α-maps showed good reproducibility and were homogeneous on iso-gravitational planes, but showed a gravity-dependent respiratory gradient. In patients with obstructive pulmonary disease, the functional impairment observed in respiratory α-maps was associated with emphysematous regions present on CT images, perfusion defects observable on DCE-MRI, and impairments visualized on FD ventilation and perfusion maps.
  
  
  
  Respiratory α-mapping derived from multivolumetric ufSSFP provides insights into functional lung impairment and may serve as a reproducible and normative measure for clinical studies. Magn Reson Med 78:1059-1069, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
authors: Division of Radiological Physics, Department of Radiology, University of Basel Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.|Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Orso
authors: O
authors: Pusterla
authors: Division of Radiological Physics, Department of Radiology, University of Basel Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.|Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Grzegorz
authors: G
authors: Bauman
authors: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology with Nuclear Medicine, Thoraxklinik at University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.|Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.|Translational Lung Research Center (TLRC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Mark O
authors: MO
authors: Wielpütz
authors: Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University Children's Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.|Department of Pediatric Pneumology, University Children's Hospital Basel (UKBB), Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Sylvia
authors: S
authors: Nyilas
authors: Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University Children's Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.|Department of Pediatric Pneumology, University Children's Hospital Basel (UKBB), Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Philipp
authors: P
authors: Latzin
authors: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology with Nuclear Medicine, Thoraxklinik at University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.|Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.|Translational Lung Research Center (TLRC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Claus P
authors: CP
authors: Heussel
authors: Division of Radiological Physics, Department of Radiology, University of Basel Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.|Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Oliver
authors: O
authors: Bieri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D062485:Breath Holding; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012119:Respiration
keywords: lung MRI; lung function; obstructive pulmonary disease; respiratory maps; ultra-fast steady-state free precession; ventilation