Acquiring Hyperpolarized 129Xe Magnetic Resonance Images of Lung Ventilation

Hyperpolarized ¹²⁹Xe MRI comprises a unique array of structural and functional lung imaging techniques. Technique standardization across sites is increasingly important given the recent FDA approval of ¹²⁹Xe as an MR contrast agent and as interest in ¹²⁹Xe MRI increases among research and clinical institutions. Members of the ¹²⁹Xe MRI Clinical Trials Consortium (Xe MRI CTC) have agreed upon best practices for each of the key aspects of the ¹²⁹Xe MRI workflow, and these recommendations are summarized in a recent publication. This work provides practical information to develop an end-to-end workflow for collecting ¹²⁹Xe MR images of lung ventilation according to the Xe MRI CTC recommendations. Preparation and administration of ¹²⁹Xe for MR studies will be discussed and demonstrated, with specific topics including choice of appropriate gas volumes for entire studies and for individual MR scans, preparation and delivery of individual ¹²⁹Xe doses, and best practices for monitoring subject safety and ¹²⁹Xe tolerability during studies. Key MR technical considerations will also be covered, including pulse sequence types and optimized parameters, calibration of ¹²⁹Xe flip angle and center frequency, and ¹²⁹Xe MRI ventilation image analysis.