Oxygen-enhanced magnetic resonance ventilation imaging of the human lung at 0.2 and 1.5 T

Lung ventilation imaging using inhaled oxygen as a contrast medium was perf ormed using both a 0.2 and a 1.5 T clinical magnetic resonance (MR) scanner in eight volunteers. Signal-to-noise-ratios (SNRs) of the ventilation imag es as well as T1 values of the lung acquired with inhalation of 100% oxygen and room air were calculated, The SNR was 9.7 a 3.0 on the 0.2 T MR system and 69.5 a 28.8 on the 1.5 T system (P < 0.001), The mean T1 value on the 0.2 T,MR system with subjects breathing room air was 632 a 54 msec; with 10 0% oxygen, it was 586 a 41 msec (P < 0.01), At 1.5 T, the mean values were 904 a 99 msec and 790 a 114 msec, respectively (P < 0.0001), We conclude th at BIR oxygen-enhanced ventilation imaging of the lung is feasible with an open configured 0.2 T MR system. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.