What type of study is this?

This is a Quantitative Study study.

September 17, 2025

Dependence of diffusion and ventilation metrics on hyperpolarized 129Xe lung MRI with demographics in healthy volunteers

Key Points

Mean diffusion coefficients and alveolar dimensions correlate strongly with age, indicating a relationship.
Over an age range of 9 to 70 years, the correlation coefficient is Spearman r=0.73, p < 0.0001.
Some markers of ventilation heterogeneity show significant increases with age, despite the ventilation defect percentage not correlating with demographics.
Defining normal ranges for pulmonary 129Xe MRI metrics aids in clinical interpretations and evaluations.

Abstract

Motivation: The normal ranges of pulmonary 129Xe diffusion and ventilation MRI metrics are not well established. Goal(s): To evaluate the influence of age, sex, height, and weight on 129Xe-MRI diffusion and ventilation metrics in a cohort of healthy volunteers. Approach: 3D diffusion-weighted SPGR and 3D SSFP ventilation images were acquired in 65 and 42 healthy volunteers, respectively. Results: Over the age range of 9 to 70 years, mean diffusion coefficients and alveolar dimensions were strongly correlated with age (Spearman r=0.73, p < 0.0001). The ventilation defect percentage was not correlated with any demographics, but some markers of ventilation heterogeneity increase significantly with age. Impact: Defining normal ranges for diffusion and ventilation 129Xe MRI metrics is important for clinical interpretation. Results show a significant increase of alveolar dimensions with age and provide an upper limit of normal for the ventilation defect percentage metric.

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