Abstract #0936

Qualitative & Quantitative Lung Perfusion Imaging of Children with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia at 3T: Initial Results

Frank G. Zoellner¹, Katrin Zahn², Thomas Schaible³, Stefan O. Schoenberg⁴, Lothar R. Schad¹, K. W. Neff⁴

¹Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany; ²Dept. of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim; ³Dept. of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim; ⁴Institute of Clinical Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany

In congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), lung hypoplasia and secondary pulmonary hypertension are the major causes of death. To the best of our knowledge, quantitative perfusion imaging of the lung in CDH has not been utilized so far. Here, we investigated whether DCE-MRI of the lung in survivors after CDH-repair at 3.0T is feasible. Ipsilateral lung hypoplasia with reduced perfusion is reflected by significant lower rPBF values (34.318 ml/100ml/min) compared to the contralateral lung (89.727 ml/100ml/min). In conclusion, DCE-MRI of the lung in CDH can help characterizing lung hypoplasia initially and in long-term follow-up of children after CDH-repair.