Fan Li MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Liu Shi Yuan MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sun Fei, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Xiao Xiang Sheng, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Li Zhao Bin, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the pulmonary parenchyma imaging with FAIR and compare with 3D dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging (DCE-MRI) in healthy volunteers, as well as in patients with pulmonary embolism or lung cancer.

The optimized TI time of SSFSE-FAIR was determined by 12 healthy volunteers scan. Ten healthy volunteers and thirty patients with pulmonary embolism or lung cancer were performed SSFSE-FAIR imaging followed by 3D DCE-MRI (product name: LAVA, Liver acquisition with volume acceleration) on a clinical 1.5T MR system (HD, GE Healthcare). For all subjects, the homogeneity of FAIR and DCE-MRI perfusion was assessed. In case of perfusion abnormality, the area of defects was measured and the contrast between normal lung and perfusion defects was quantified by calculating the normalized signal intensity ratio (⊿SI = SI normal-SI abnormal / SI normal). Paired Student’s t test was used for the statistical analysis; the level of statistical test (a) is 0.05.

High quality lung perfusion images were acquired with both FAIR with 1000ms TI time and DCE-MRI acquired by LAVA sequence of 6 phases and 4s per phase. For the volunteers, the signal intensity of FAIR images was homogeneous and was verified by DCE-MRI. Wedged-shaped or triangle perfusion defects were visualized in ten pulmonary embolisms and twelve lung cancer infiltrating the pulmonary artery. There was no significant statistical difference of the defect area and the ⊿SI between FAIR and DCE-MRI (P>0.05). For other lung cancers, the regions of lesions showed low perfusion against the high perfusion of pulmonary parenchyma not only with FAIR but also with DCE-MRI.

Pulmonary parenchyma perfusion imaging with FAIR and DCE-MRI was feasible and consistent, which has high diagnosis accuracy for the detection of perfusion abnormalities caused by pulmonary embolism or lung cancer. FAIR as a noninvasive technique could obtain the same perfusion effect, comparing with DCE-MRI.

FAIR has great potential to make MR the easy and healthy modality for pulmonary function research.

Li, F, Yuan, L, Fei, S, Sheng, X, Bin, L, Pulmonary Parenchyma Perfusion Imaging with SSFSE-FAIR, Comparing with 3D DCE MRI.  Radiological Society of North America 2007 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2007 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2007/5012460.html