Quantifying Spatial Distribution of Ventilation Defects in Multiple Pulmonary Diseases With Hyperpolarized ¹²⁹Xenon MRI

Abstract

BackgroundHyperpolarized 129Xe MRI assesses lung ventilation, often using the ventilation defect percentage (VDP). Unlike VDP, defect distribution index (DDI) quantifies spatial clustering of defects.PurposeTo quantify spatial distribution of 129Xe ventilation defects using DDI across pulmonary diseases.Study TypeRetrospective.SubjectsFour hundred twenty‐one subjects (age = 23.1 ± 17.1, female = 230), comprising healthy controls (N = 60) and subjects with obstructive conditions (asthma [N = 25], bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome [BOS, N = 18], cystic fibrosis [CF, N = 90], lymphangioleiomyomatosis [LAM, N = 50]), restrictive conditions (bleomycin‐treated cancer survivors [BLEO, N = 14]; fibrotic lung diseases [FLD, N = 92]), bone marrow transplantation (BMT, N = 53), and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD, N = 19).Field Strength/Sequence3 T, two‐dimensional multi‐slice gradient echo.AssessmentWhole‐lung mean DDI was extracted from DDI maps; correlated with VDP (percent of pixels <60% of whole‐lung mean signal intensity) and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) including FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC. DDI and DDI/VDP, a marker of defect clustering, were compared across diseases.Statistical TestsPearson correlation analysis and Kruskal–Wallis tests. P < 0.0056 for disease groups, P < 0.0125 for categories.ResultsDDI was significantly elevated in BMT (8.3 ± 11.5), BOS (30.1 ± 57.5), BPD (16.0 ± 46.8), CF (15.4 ± 27.2), and LAM (12.6 ± 34.2) compared to controls (1.8 ± 3.1). DDI correlated significantly with VDP in all groups (r ≥ 0.56) except BLEO, and with PFTs in CF, FLD, and LAM (r ≥ 0.56). Obstructive groups had significantly higher mean DDI (14.0 ± 32.0) than controls (1.8 ± 3.0) and restrictive groups (4.0 ± 12.0). DDI/VDP was significantly lower in the restrictive group (0.6 ± 0.6) than controls (0.8 ± 0.6) and obstructive group (1.0 ± 1.0).Data ConclusionDDI may provide insights into the distribution of ventilation defects across diseases.Evidence Level3Technical EfficacyStage 2