Lung ventilation‐ and perfusion‐weighted Fourier decomposition magnetic resonance imaging: In vivo validation with hyperpolarized ³He and dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to validate ventilation-weighted (VW) and perfusion-weighted (QW) Fourier decomposition (FD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with hyperpolarized (3)He MRI and dynamic contrast-enhanced perfusion (DCE) MRI in a controlled animal experiment. Three healthy pigs were studied on 1.5-T MR scanner. For FD MRI, the VW and QW images were obtained by postprocessing of time-resolved lung image sets. DCE acquisitions were performed immediately after contrast agent injection. (3)He MRI data were acquired following the administration of hyperpolarized helium and nitrogen mixture. After baseline MR scans, pulmonary embolism was artificially produced. FD MRI and DCE MRI perfusion measurements were repeated. Subsequently, atelectasis and air trapping were induced, which followed with FD MRI and (3)He MRI ventilation measurements. Distributions of signal intensities in healthy and pathologic lung tissue were compared by statistical analysis. Images acquired using FD, (3)He, and DCE MRI in all animals before the interventional procedure showed homogeneous ventilation and perfusion. Functional defects were detected by all MRI techniques at identical anatomical locations. Signal intensity in VW and QW images was significantly lower in pathological than in healthy lung parenchyma. The study has shown usefulness of FD MRI as an alternative, noninvasive, and easily implementable technique for the assessment of acute changes in lung function.

Free-breathing Pulmonary 1H and Hyperpolarized 3He MRI

“…Moreover, recent studies have also demonstrated the reproducibility of FDMRI ventilation-weighted and perfusionweighted images in healthy volunteers (32). Finally FDMRI-to-3 He MRI comparisons in animals showed similar regional abnormalities including pulmonary embolism, atelectasis, and air trapping (30).…”

“…Although rapid (8-15 seconds acquisition time) and well tolerated, inhaled noble gas MRI is dependent on polarized gas and multinuclear magnetic resonance imaging hardware. An alternative approach that exploits Fourier decomposition of free-breathing pulmonary MRI (FDMRI) was first developed by Bauman et al (27) at 1.5 T. This method provides a way to generate quantitative pulmonary maps of ventilation and perfusion using fast pulmonary MRI acquisitions of free-breathing 1 H MRI and nonrigid registration (27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33). FDMRI was recently compared and validated with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)-CT (28) and 3 He MRI (30) in a porcine model.…”

CHAPTER 17. Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Respiratory Diseases: From Diagnosis to Pharmaceutical Research and Development

“…The technique has been compared to HP 3 He and DCE-MRI in a controlled experiment in pigs. 93 Baseline FD, 3 He and DCE MRI in healthy animals showed homogeneous ventilation and perfusion. Pulmonary embolism was then artificially produced, and FD and DCE MRI perfusion measurements were repeated.…”

Historical Evolution of Imaging Techniques for the Evaluation of Pulmonary Embolism:RSNA Centennial Article

“…Nonenhanced techniques (such as arterial spin labeling, in which a control image is subtracted from a radiofrequency pulse-tagged image) can produce perfusion-weighted images, but these methods are technically demanding (163). The use of nonenhanced Fourier decomposition as a method for assessing ventilation and perfusion may be promising, but research into this technique is still in the validation stage (164,165). Newer techniques such as four-dimensional velocity flow mapping may provide additional insights into flow patterns in the pulmonary circulation (166).…”