Related Experiment Videos
Emphysematous changes and normal variation in smokers and COPD patients using diffusion 3He MRI.
Andrew J Swift1, Jim M Wild, Stan Fichele
1Unit of Academic Radiology, University of Sheffield, Floor C, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2JF, UK. ajswifto@yahoo.com
European Journal of Radiology
|May 19, 2005
Summary
Hyperpolarized 3He MR apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements reveal regional lung changes. Smokers and COPD patients show more diffuse lung motion, indicating early or advanced respiratory damage.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Medical Imaging
- Respiratory Physiology
Background:
- Lung diffusion quantification using hyperpolarized 3He MR apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) is crucial for understanding respiratory diseases.
- Assessing diffusive motion in non-smokers, smokers, and COPD patients provides insights into disease progression and early damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify global and regional changes in lung diffusive motion using hyperpolarized 3He MR ADC.
- To compare ADC measurements between healthy non-smokers, smokers, and COPD patients.
Main Methods:
- Employed hyperpolarized 3He gas inhalation followed by diffusion imaging to generate ADC maps.
- Utilized mean and standard deviation of ADC to compare subject groups and assess regional variations.
- Included age-matched groups of healthy non-smokers (6), healthy smokers (5), and COPD patients (5).
Main Results:
- Healthy smokers exhibited significantly higher intra-individual standard deviation of ADC compared to non-smokers (P < 0.02).
- COPD patients showed significantly higher mean and standard deviation of ADC than non-smokers (P < 0.01).
- A systematic trend of higher mean ADC in the anterior versus posterior lung regions was observed in healthy non-smokers.
Conclusions:
- Regional ADC trends in healthy volunteers may impact clinical ADC value interpretation.
- Less homogeneous ADC values in asymptomatic smokers suggest damage to distal air spaces.
- Hyperpolarized 3He MR ADC is sensitive to subtle lung changes in smokers and COPD patients.