Multiple inversion recovery MR subtraction imaging of human ventilation from inhalation of room air and pure oxygen

The feasibility of MR subtraction imaging of lung ventilation using air aga inst oxygen using a multiple inversion recovery half-fourier single-shot tu rbo spin echo (MIR-HASTE) sequence was investigated. Eight healthy, nonsmok ing volunteers (3 males, 5 females; from 27 to 48 years of age) were studie d on a 1.5 T MR unit, The ventilation image was obtained from the subtracti on of the images acquired with the subject inhaling room air and 100% oxyge n. By suppressing the signal from subcutaneous fat and thoracic muscle, MIR -HASTE improved the subtraction of signal arising from background tissues. Lung parenchyma, pulmonary veins, descending aorta, spleen, and kidney show ed high signal difference, but pulmonary arteries exhibited minimal signal difference. Because of minimal signal change in the pulmonary arteries afte r inhalation of 100% oxygen, the average signal decreases in the left and r ight lungs including hilus and periphery amounted to only 19.4 +/- 4.5 and 20.2 +/- 3.4%, respectively, compared with regional averages of 23.6 +/- 5. 4 and 24.1 +/- 3.1% for both lung peripheries alone, Magn Reson Med 43:913- 916, 2000, (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.