Oxygen-enhanced lung MRI is promising for assessing regional lung function (ventilation and perfusion) but the physiological contributions to signal enhancement are poorly characterized. We sought to assess how oxygen-induced pulmonary vasodilation may contribute to signal enhancement by altering pulmonary blood volume and therefore lung proton density. We acquired repeated PDw and T1w images using a 0.55 T prototype MRI system in anesthetized pigs exposed to room air, 100% O2, 50% O2, hypoxia and experimental pulmonary hypovolemia. Our findings suggest that T1w signal intensity is affected by oxygen through both T1 shortening and vascular activity.
This abstract and the presentation materials are available to members only; a login is required.