Dissolved 129Xe lung MRI with four‐echo 3D radial spectroscopic imaging: Quantification of regional gas transfer in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

PURPOSE: Xe) in the lung is performed using a four-echo flyback 3D radial spectroscopic imaging technique and is evaluated in healthy volunteers (HV) and subjects with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). THEORY AND METHODS: Xe in lung tissue/plasma (TP) and red blood cells (RBC) combined with a 3D radial trajectory was implemented within a 14-s breath-hold. RESULTS: % predicted was significantly correlated with RBC/TP and RBC/GAS ratios and the correlations were stronger in the inferior and periphery sections of the lungs. CONCLUSION: Xe was performed with a four-echo spectroscopic imaging method. Subjects with IPF demonstrated reduced xenon imaging gas transfer and increased cardiogenic modulation of dissolved xenon signal in the RBCs when compared to HV.