Elaine Hegarty1, 2, Alexei V. Ouriadov3, Matthew S. Fox, 23, Eugene Wong2, 4, Ian D. Welch5, Giles E. Santyr3, 4
1Imaging Research Laboratories, John P. Robarts Research Institute, London , Ontario, Canada; 2Physics and Astronomy, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; 3Imaging Research Laboratories, John P. Robarts Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada; 4Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; 5Animal Care and Veterinary Services, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging of hyperpolarized noble gases (3He and 129Xe) provides anatomical and functional information about the lungs. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in the lung is anisotropic and can be described by two components; (i) a longitudinal coefficient (DL) representing diffusion along the terminal bronchiole and (ii) a transverse coefficient (DT) representing diffusion perpendicular to the terminal airway. 129Xe ADC anisotropy was mapped in the lungs of a cohort of rats receiving irradiation and compared to histology. Radiation induced lung injury (RILI) was observed in ADC maps as well as histology.