Implementation of dissolved 129Xe lung MRI with 4-echo 3D radial spectroscopic imaging at 3T: comparing with results at 1.5T in healthy volunteers

Four-echo 3D radial spectroscopic imaging of hyperpolarised 129Xe in the lung is implemented at 3T to measure ratios of xenon gas and dissolved xenon in blood (RBC) and lung tissues (M). Thanks to an interleaved acquisition of the echo times and the choice of a 0.32ms echo time spacing, data acquisition is possible within the short relaxation time of dissolved 129Xe (T2*~1ms). 11 healthy volunteers have been imaged at both 1.5 and 3T after the inhalation of a 1L dose of hyperpolarised 129Xe. Results show comparable images at both field strengths and a significantly reduced (p=0.02) RBC:M at 3T.