Hyperpolarized noble gas MR imaging of the lung: Potential clinical applications

Salerno, Michael; Altes, Talissa A; Mugler, John P; Nakatsu, Masashi; Hatabu, Hiroto; de Lange, Eduard E

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Volume 40, Issue 1 , Pages 33-44, October 2001

Hyperpolarized noble gas MR imaging of the lung: Potential clinical applications

Michael Salerno
- Department of Radiology, University of Virginia Health Sciences System, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
Talissa A Altes
- Department of Radiology, University of Virginia Health Sciences System, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
John P Mugler III
- Department of Radiology, University of Virginia Health Sciences System, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
Masashi Nakatsu
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Hiroto Hatabu
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Eduard E de Lange
- Department of Radiology, University of Virginia Health Sciences System, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
- Corresponding author

Received 20 April 2001; received in revised form 23 April 2001; accepted 25 April 2001.

Abstract

Hyperpolarized noble gases are a new class of MR contrast agent. Since the first hyperpolarized gas MR images of the lung were reported, there has been considerable interest in using hyperpolarized gas to obtain high spatial and temporal resolution images of the air spaces of the lung. In addition to static images of lung ventilation, new techniques are being developed using hyperpolarized gas to obtain dynamic, diffusion and oxygen concentration images of the lung. In this article, we review the potential clinical applications of pulmonary hyperpolarized gas MRI and discuss the preliminary findings in a variety of lung diseases. Hyperpolarized gas MRI has the potential to provide a comprehensive morphologic and functional assessment of the lung.

Keywords: Magnetic resonance, Lung, Chest, Hyperpolarized noble gas