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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
Quantitative Mapping of Specific Ventilation in the Human Lung using Proton Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Oxygen as a Contrast Agent
Published on: June 5, 2019
Volumetry of ventilated airspaces by 3He MRI: preliminary results
H U Kauczor1, K Markstaller, M Puderbach
1Department of Radiology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany. kauczor@radiologie.klinik.uni-mainz.de
Rationale And Objectives:
To develop a validated post-processing routine for volumetry of the ventilated airspaces by 3He MRI.
Methods:
3Helium MRI and pulmonary function tests were performed in seven healthy volunteers. After segmentation of ventilated airspaces, their volumes were calculated. Functional residual capacity (FRC) was used as a reference. For comparison of absolute volumes, correction factors were evaluated.
Results:
Mean lung volume (+/- standard deviation) calculated from 3He MRI was 4,082 +/- 908 mL and mean FRC was 3,696 +/- 1166 mL, with a mean difference of 386 mL (r = 0.88). After correction for the relative pulmonary air content (factor 0.82), posture (0.72), and the individual tidal volume, 3He MRI volume was 3,348 +/- 744 mL and mean FRC was 3,422 +/- 817 mL, with the mean difference down to -74 mL (r = 0.9). Comparison on an individual basis confirmed an improvement in the estimation of absolute lung volume.
Conclusions:
Volumetry of ventilated lung from 3He MRI shows high correlation and good agreement with the results of pulmonary function tests.
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