Ahmed Fathi Halaweish1,2, Youbing Yin3,
Daniel R. Thedens1, Ching-Long Lin3, Edwin J. R.
vanBeek4, Eric A. Hoffman1,2
1Department of Radiology,
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States; 2Department of
Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States; 3Department
of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City,
IA, United States; 4Queen's Medical Research Institute, University
of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
Hyperpolarized 3Helium MRI has enabled probing of ventilation distribution (static ventilation) and the underlying microstructure (apparent diffusion coefficients). We have successfully evaluated these techniques against regional ventilation measures based on local air volume changes, obtained from matching FRC to TLC MDCT scans. A strong positive correlation between the techniques was observed, as well as a strong fit of the regression line between the two, when assessed on a whole or left & right lung basis. Differences arise as a function of gas density, such that 3Helium distributions are higher in the ventral portions when compared against the MDCT estimates.