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Updated: Jul 7, 2026
Phase-Resolved Functional Lung MRI for Pulmonary Ventilation and Perfusion (V/Q) Assessment
Published on: August 9, 2024
Assessment of pulmonary parenchyma perfusion with FAIR in comparison with DCE-MRI--initial results
Li Fan1, Shi-yuan Liu, Fei Sun
1Department of Radiology, ChangZheng Hospital Affiliated to Second Military Medical University, No. 415 Fengyang Road, Shanghai 200003, China. fanli0930@163.com
Objective:
The aim of this study was to assess pulmonary parenchyma perfusion with flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) in comparison with 3D dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) imaging in healthy volunteers and in patients with pulmonary embolism or lung cancer.
Materials And Methods:
Sixteen healthy volunteers and 16 patients with pulmonary embolism (5 cases) or lung cancer (11 cases) were included in this study. Firstly, the optimized inversion time of FAIR (TI) was determined in 12 healthy volunteers. Then, FAIR imaging with the optimized TI was performed followed by DCE-MRI on the other 4 healthy volunteers and 16 patients. Tagging efficiency of lung and SNR of perfusion images were calculated with different TI values. In the comparison of FAIR with DCE-MRI, the homogeneity of FAIR and DCE-MRI perfusion was assessed. In the cases of perfusion abnormality, the contrast between normal lung and perfusion defects was quantified by calculating a normalized signal intensity ratio.
Results:
One thousand milliseconds was the optimal TI, which generated the highest lung tagging efficiency and second highest PBF SNR. In the volunteers, the signal intensity of perfusion images acquired with both FAIR and DCE-MRI was homogeneous. Wedged-shaped or triangle perfusion defects were visualized in five pulmonary embolisms and three lung cancer cases. There was no significant statistical difference in signal intensity ratio between FAIR and DCE-MRI (P>0.05). In the rest of eight lung cancers, all the lesions showed low perfusion against the higher perfused pulmonary parenchyma in both FAIR and DCE-MRI.
Conclusion:
Pulmonary parenchyma perfusion imaging with FAIR was feasible, consistent and could obtain similar functional information to that from DCE-MRI.
Insights
Flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) imaging provides feasible and consistent pulmonary parenchyma perfusion assessment. This method offers similar functional information to 3D dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) imaging for lung diseases.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Pulmonary Medicine
Background:
- Pulmonary perfusion imaging is crucial for diagnosing lung diseases.
- Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI is a common technique, but alternative methods are explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) for pulmonary parenchyma perfusion.
- To compare FAIR imaging with 3D dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI in healthy volunteers and patients.
Main Methods:
- Optimized inversion time (TI) for FAIR was determined in volunteers.
- FAIR and DCE-MRI were performed on healthy volunteers and patients with pulmonary embolism or lung cancer.
- Image homogeneity and contrast ratios of perfusion defects were assessed.
Main Results:
- Optimal TI for FAIR yielded high lung tagging efficiency and good signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
- FAIR and DCE-MRI showed homogeneous perfusion in volunteers.
- Perfusion defects were identified in pulmonary embolism and lung cancer cases, with no significant difference between FAIR and DCE-MRI in contrast quantification.
Conclusions:
- Pulmonary parenchyma perfusion imaging using FAIR is feasible and consistent.
- FAIR provides comparable functional information to DCE-MRI for lung perfusion assessment.
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