PURPOSE: To demonstrate the capability of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging t
o assess alteration in regional pulmonary ventilation and perfusion with an
imal models of airway obstruction and pulmonary embolism.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Airway obstruction was created by inflating a 5-F ba
lloon catheter into a secondary bronchus. Pulmonary emboli were created by
injecting thrombi into the inferior vena cava. Regional pulmonary ventilati
on was assessed with 100% oxygen as a T1 contrast agent. Regional pulmonary
perfusion was assessed with a two-dimensional fast low-angle shot, or FLAS
H, sequence with short repetition and echo times after intravenous administ
ration of gadopentetate dimeglumine.
RESULTS: Matched ventilation and perfusion abnormalities were identified in
all animals with airway obstruction. MR perfusion defects without ventilat
ion abnormalities were seen in all animals with pulmonary emboli.
CONCLUSION: Ventilation and perfusion MR imaging are able to provide region
al pulmonary functional information with high spatial and temporal resoluti
on. The ability of MR imaging to assess both the magnitude and regional dis
tribution of pulmonary functional impairment could have an important effect
on the evaluation of lung disease.