Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 2, 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
Improvement in Ventilation-Perfusion Mismatch after Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction: Quantitative Image Analysis
Sei Won Lee1, Sang Min Lee1, So Youn Shin1
1From the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and Clinical Research Center for Chronic Obstructive Airway Diseases (S.W.L., T.S.P., J.S.L., Y.M.O., S.D.L.) and Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology (S.M.L., S.Y.S., S.Y.O., N.K., J.B.S.), Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-736, Korea; Department of Radiology, Kyung Hee University Hospital, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea (S.Y.S.); Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea (T.S.P.); and Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea (Y.H.).
Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) improves lung ventilation and ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatch in severe emphysema patients. This enhanced lung efficiency is key to improvement, even with reduced lung volume.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Severe emphysema with hyperinflation impacts lung function.
- Standard treatments may not fully restore lung function.
- Ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatch is a significant issue in emphysema.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess if bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) enhances ventilation.
- To determine if BLVR improves ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatch.
- To evaluate the impact of BLVR on lung physiology using advanced imaging.
Main Methods:
- Utilized xenon-enhanced ventilation and iodine-enhanced perfusion dual-energy CT scans.
- Measured changes in pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and 6-minute walking distance (6MWD).
- Assessed quality of life and dual-energy CT parameters at baseline and 3 months post-BLVR.
Main Results:
- BLVR significantly improved FEV1 and 6MWD.
- Ventilation per voxel and total ventilation increased post-BLVR.
- V/Q mismatch improved significantly, primarily due to enhanced ventilation.
Conclusions:
- BLVR enhances lung ventilation and improves V/Q mismatch in severe emphysema.
- Increased lung efficiency, driven by improved ventilation, is the likely mechanism for improvement.
- Dual-energy CT is effective in quantifying physiologic changes after BLVR.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Respiratory Volumes
Tidal Volume (TV) Tidal volume (TV) is the air inhaled or exhaled in a...
01:30Radiological Investigation II: MRI and Ventilation Perfusion Scan
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Ventilation Perfusion Scans are two radiological investigations that offer detailed diagnostic images of the body, particularly lung structures.
MRI
MRI uses magnetic fields and radiofrequency signals to distinguish between normal and abnormal tissues. This technology provides a more detailed diagnostic image than CT scans, enabling it to characterize pulmonary nodules, stage bronchogenic carcinoma, and evaluate inflammatory activity in...