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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
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Phase-Resolved Functional Lung MRI for Pulmonary Ventilation and Perfusion (V/Q) Assessment
Published on: August 9, 2024
Non-invasive fetal lung assessment using diffusion-weighted imaging
1Division of Fetal Imaging, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, USA. wlee@beaumont.edu
Summary
Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) provides reproducible apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) for fetal lung tissue. These ADC measurements are independent of fetal age and lung volume, offering a reliable biomarker.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Fetal Development
- Diffusion MRI
Background:
- Accurate assessment of fetal lung development is crucial.
- Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) offers a non-invasive method to study tissue microstructural changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a reproducible DWI method for estimating water diffusion in human fetal lungs.
- To investigate the relationship between apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs), fetal age, and lung volume.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a 1.5-Tesla MRI system with single-shot DWI sequences.
- Acquired data from normal pregnant volunteers, calculating ADCs using b-values of 0 and 1000.
- Assessed reproducibility using Bland-Altman analysis for inter- and intra-examiner variability.
Main Results:
- Developed a reproducible method for fetal lung ADC estimation with low coefficient of variation (5.6%).
- ADC values showed no significant correlation with menstrual age (P=0.70) or total lung volume (P=0.94).
- Demonstrated good inter- and intra-examiner agreement for ADC measurements.
Conclusions:
- Apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) in the fetal lung are reproducible using DWI.
- ADC measurements are independent of gestational age and lung volume, suggesting stability during development.
- This DWI method provides a reliable tool for fetal lung research.
