Abstract #4361

Quantification of Hyperpolarized 3He MRI Ventilation Heterogeneity in Asthmatics: Surface Area of Ventilation Clusters

Andrew Westcott^1,2, Rachel L Eddy^1,2, Dante PI Capaldi^1,2, Heather M Young^1,2, David G McCormack³, and Grace Parraga^1,2

¹Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, Canada, ²Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, ON, Canada, ³Medicine, Division of Respirology, Western University, London, ON, Canada

Ventilation heterogeneity measured using hyperpolarized noble-gas magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI), presents a significant challenge in terms of the need for imaging processing tools to generate rapid, reproducible, intuitive and clinically relevant biomarkers. In particular, new tools are needed to differentiate ventilation defects and patchy ventilation that likely represent different functional phenotypes. Therefore, here we developed a new way to quantify MRI ventilation heterogeneity using the surface area between ventilation clusters – the ratio of surface area to ventilation volume (SAVV) measured in units of mm^-1. MRI SAVV was significantly greater in severe asthmatics (n=24), as compared to mild-to-moderate asthmatics (n=16).

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