Fast magnetic resonance imaging of the lung

The impact of fast MR techniques developed for MR imaging of the lung will soon be recognized as equivalent to the high-resolution technique in chest CT imaging. In this article, the difficulties in MR imaging posed by lung m orphology and its physiological motion are briefly introduced. Then, fast M R imaging techniques to overcome the problems of lung imaging and recent ap plications of the fast MR techniques including pulmonary perfusion and vent ilation imaging are discussed. Fast MR imaging opens a new exciting window to multi-functional MR imaging of the lung. We believe that fast MR functio nal imaging will play an important role in the assessment of pulmonary func tion and disease process. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science ireland Ltd. AU rights reserved.