The Role of Hyperpolarized Xenon in MR Imaging of Pulmonary Function

Overview

Journal Eur J Radiol

Specialty Radiology

Date 2016 Oct 7

PMID 27707585

Citations 32

Authors

Lukas Ebner

Jeff Kammerman

Bastiaan Driehuys

Mark L Schiebler

Robert V Cadman

Sean B Fain

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In the last two decades, functional imaging of the lungs using hyperpolarized noble gases has entered the clinical stage. Both helium (He) and xenon (Xe) gas have been thoroughly investigated for their ability to assess both the global and regional patterns of lung ventilation. With advances in polarizer technology and the current transition towards the widely available Xe gas, this method is ready for translation to the clinic. Currently, hyperpolarized (HP) noble gas lung MRI is limited to selected academic institutions; yet, the promising results from initial clinical trials have drawn the attention of the pulmonary medicine community. HP Xe MRI provides not only 3-dimensional ventilation imaging, but also unique capabilities for probing regional lung physiology. In this review article, we aim to (1) provide a brief overview of current ventilation MR imaging techniques, (2) emphasize the role of HP Xe MRI within the array of different imaging strategies, (3) discuss the unique imaging possibilities with HP Xe MRI, and (4) propose clinical applications.

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