Pulmonary functional MR imaging

Abstract

Summary form only received as follows: The newer generation MR scanner with its higher-performance gradient system and echo-planner capability can control the gradient system very accurately and rapidly. The fast MRI techniques, which are facilitated by the emergence of these new MR systems with enhanced gradients, are essential for the MR imaging of the lung. Fast MR imaging techniques with a very short TE are overcoming the problem of inhomogeneous magnetic susceptibility. In addition, the single-shot fast SE sequence can now depict the lung parenchyma, providing a platform for MR imaging of the lung. Contrast-enhanced MR imaging and arterial spin-labeling methods provide noninvasive pulmonary perfusion imaging. Oxygen-enhanced MR and hyperpolarized noble gas techniques have made MR ventilation imaging feasible. Moreover, combination of these MR ventilation-perfusion MR imaging is extremely important, as gas exchange in the lung can be achieved only when ventilation and perfusion are coordinated each other. MR-based data on pulmonary ventilation and perfusion have to be matched by the order of image pixels. In addition, MR data sets with high spatial and temporal resolution can be analyzed with mathematical models pixel by pixel, yielding important physiological information beyond simple visual image interpretation. Pulmonary function MR imaging may be part of the twenty-first century version of pulmonary function testing. The development and use of these functional techniques provides continuing challenges to researchers in engineering and computer science.