Investigating the Relationship between Lung Volume and the Lung-Diaphragm Signal at 3T: Implications for Ventilation Measures

The relationship between lung volume and lung MR signal is key to quantifying ventilation using 1H MRI. This relationship was probed using a highly accelerated 3D FFE acquisition at 3T. Linear regression between the percentage change in lung-diaphragm navigator signal and lung volume showed that the relationship between these parameters was not always linear, especially in patient groups. Polynomial regression was used to assess the extent of the hysteresis between inspiration and expiration, with more hysteresis observed in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.