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In a pilot study of thoracic insufficiency syndrome in a pig model, we demonstrated dynamic hyperpolarized xenon-129 (HXe) MRI’s ability to noninvasively measure respiratory dysfunction in terms of gas distribution and mixing in the lungs, and specifically showed ‘out of phase’ ventilation in constricted regions of the lung. This marker of ventilation—i.e., the temporal characteristic of signal build-up during inhalation and its wash-out during exhalation—is inaccessible without our dynamic imaging technique. This technique can be implemented clinically to enhance our understanding of TIS pathophysiology and evaluate treatment strategies aimed at fostering age appropriate alveolarization.
Hamedani et al. (Wed,) studied this question.