Abstract #1354

A Comparison of Hyperpolarized Helium-3 and Xenon-129 MR Ventilation Imaging in Cystic Fibrosis

T. A. Altes¹, J. P. Mugler¹, C. Meyer², J. H. Mata¹, P. Komlosi¹, D. Froh³, G. W. Miller¹, F. W. Hersman⁴, I. C. Russet⁴, I. Tsentalovich⁴, E. E. de Lange¹, M. C. Botfield⁵, and M. Johnson⁵

¹Radiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States, ²Boimedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States, ³Pediatric Pulmonology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States, ⁴Xemed, Durham, NH, United States, ⁵Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Cambridge, MA, United States

Summary: Ventilation MRI of the lung has been performed with hyperpolarized helium-3 and xenon-129. It is not known whether the distribution within the lung of inhaled xenon-129, which has an atomic weight 43 times that of helium-3, is different from that for helium-3. In this study of 6 subjects with cystic fibrosis (CF), the size, location, and relative severity of the defects were nearly identical with helium-3 and xenon-129 for most subjects. In a few subjects the defects were more conspicuous, larger, and/or more numerous with xenon-129, which suggests xenon-129 may be more sensitive to areas of partial airflow obstruction.