In Vivo Lung Elastography with Hyperpolarized Helium-3 MRI

Xavier Matre¹, Ralph Sinkus², Roberta Santarelli¹, Mathieu Sarracanie¹, Rose-Marie Dubuisson¹, Emeline Boriasse¹, Emmanuel Durand¹, Luc Darrasse¹, Jacques Bittoun¹

The viscoelastic properties of human tissue depend on its structures, biological conditions, and related pathologies. In the lung parenchyma, these properties participate in the basic function of the organ. They are dramatically altered by diseases like cancer, emphysema, asthma, or interstitial fibrosis. Besides tactual exploration, there is no other non-invasive technique to assess such changes. This work aims to produce a novel measurement tool based on magnetic resonance imaging of hyperpolarised helium-3 to monitor the mechanical properties of the lung, which allow mapping of its compliance and relating it to pathology. We demonstrate its feasibility in vivo.