Noninvasive pulmonary perfusion imaging by STAR-HASTE sequence

The STAR-HASTE sequence has been shown to be useful for perfusion imaging i n areas that are plagued by magnetic susceptibility artifacts, Pulmonary pe rfusion imaging with this technique was attempted in this study, Quantitati ve analysis was also conducted, using an appropriate kinetic model in one s ubject, In six healthy subjects, gradual enhancement was observed in pulmon ary artery to distal lung parenchyma when inflow time was increased. Our in itial results suggest that noninvasive evaluation of pulmonary perfusion by magnetic resonance imaging without administration of an exogenous agent is possible. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.