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Updated: Dec 5, 2025
Author Spotlight: Enhancing Diagnostic Strategies and Biomarker Development for Comprehensive Lung Function Analysis
Published on: August 9, 2024
Repeatability of Phase-Resolved Functional Lung (PREFUL)-MRI Ventilation and Perfusion Parameters in Healthy Subjects
Gesa H Pöhler1,2, Filip Klimeš1,2, Lea Behrendt1,2
1Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Background:
Free-breathing phase-resolved functional lung (PREFUL)-MRI may be useful for treatment monitoring in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with dyspnea. PREFUL test-retest reliability is essential for clinical application.
Purpose:
To measure the repeatability of PREFUL-MRI ventilation (V) and perfusion (Q) parameters.
Study Type:
Retrospective and prospective.
Population:
A total of 28 COPD patients and 57 healthy subjects.
Field Strength/Sequence:
1.5T MRI/2D spoiled gradient echo imaging.
Assessment:
V and Q lung parameter maps based on three coronal slices were obtained at baseline and after 14 days (COPD patients) or after a short pause outside the scanner (healthy subjects). Regional ventilation (RVent) and imaging flow volume loops by cross-correlation (ccVent) were quantified. Q was normalized to the signal of the main pulmonary artery (QN ) and quantified (QQuant ). Pulmonary pulse wave transit time (pPTT), voxel-by-voxel (regional), and whole lung (global) ventilation defect percentage based on RVent (VDPRVent ) and ccVent (VDPccVent ), perfusion defect percentage (QDP), and ventilation/perfusion match based on RVent (VQMRVent ) and ccVent (VQMccVent ) were calculated.
Statistical Tests:
Regional V and Q were analyzed globally for each subject. Each parameter's median of scans 1 and 2 were assessed by Wilcoxon sign rank test. A parameter's repeatability was analyzed by Bland-Altman analyses, coefficients of variation, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and power calculations. The regional voxel repeatability was examined by calculating the Sørensen-Dice coefficient.
Results:
There was no bias and no significant differences between the first and second MRI for any parameters (P > 0.05). Coefficient of variation ranged from 2.26% (ccVent) to 19.31% (QDP), ICC from 0.93 (QDP) to 0.60 (pPTT), the smallest detectable difference was 0.002 ccVent. Regional comparison showed the highest overlap (84%) in VDPRVent in healthy voxels and the lowest (53%) in VDPccVent defect voxels.
Data Conclusion:
V and Q PREFUL-MRI parameters were repeatable over two scan sessions in both healthy controls and COPD patients.
Level Of Evidence:
2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 2.
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