[Construction of pulmonary time-volume curve using MR: comparison with lung volume measurements using CT]

This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of dynamic pulmonary ventilation using MR and to compare it with lung volume measurements using CT. MR images during tidal breathing and CT images at resting expiratory level were obtained in 7 normal volunteers. The correlation between lung volume using CT and that using MR at resting expiratory level was significant (r = 0.993, p < 0.001). Pulmonary time-volume curves for each lobe were constructed by applying a Fourier series. The technique used in this study appears to be potentially useful to assess lobar lung function non-invasively and quantitatively.