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Updated: Dec 27, 2025
Multi-modal Pulmonary Imaging: Using Complementary Information from CT and Hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI to Evaluate Lung Structure-Function
Published on: April 12, 2024
Pulmonary Imaging Phenotypes of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Using Multiparametric Response Maps
Jonathan L MacNeil1, Dante P I Capaldi1, Andrew R Westcott1
1From the Robarts Research Institute (J.L.M., A.R.W., R.L.E., A.L.B., G.P.), School of Biomedical Engineering (J.L.M., G.P.), Department of Medical Biophysics (A.R.W., R.L.E., A.L.B., G.P.), and Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine (D.G.M., G.P.), Western University, 1151 Richmond St N, London, ON, Canada N6A 5B7; Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif (D.P.I.C.); and Department of Physics, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (M.K.).
Multiparametric response maps revealed unexpected emphysema and small airways disease in ex-smokers, even those without COPD. These imaging findings correlated with lung function and quality of life metrics.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Current pulmonary imaging for COPD relies on CT or MRI, but combined evaluations are lacking.
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) diagnosis and assessment benefit from advanced imaging techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate multiparametric response map (mPRM) measurements using combined CT and hyperpolarized helium-3 MRI.
- To assess structure-function relationships in ex-smokers with and without COPD.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving 175 ex-smokers undergoing volume-matched CT and 3He MRI.
- Disease status classified using Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria.
- mPRM voxel values generated from co-registered MRI and CT data; statistical analyses included Kruskal-Wallis and Bonferroni tests.
Main Results:
- Ex-smokers without COPD showed a higher fraction of normal mPRM voxels compared to those with GOLD I-IV disease.
- Abnormal mPRM findings, including small airways disease and mild emphysema, were identified even in ex-smokers with normal spirometry and CT.
- Normal mPRM measurements correlated positively with lung function (FEV1, FEV1/FVC, DLCO) and negatively with quality of life.
Conclusions:
- Multiparametric response maps can detect subclinical emphysema and small airways disease in ex-smokers.
- These imaging biomarkers correlate with functional lung parameters and quality of life.
- mPRM offers a novel approach to characterizing lung structure-function in COPD and related conditions.
