Alexei V. Ouriadov1, Adam Farag1, Miranda Kirby1, 2, David G. McCormack3, Grace Parraga1, 4, Giles E. Santyr1, 2
1Imaging Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, London, Ontario, Canada; 2Department of Medical Biophysics, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, London, Ontario, Canada; 3Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, London, Ontario, Canada; 4Department of Medical Imaging, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, London, Ontario, Canada
The availability of large volumes (up to 2 L) of highly polarized 129Xe gas provides a way to conduct multiple b value measurements of the 129Xe ADC in human subjects for the quantitative evaluation of lung tissue microstructure. In contrast with the single exponential ADC method, xenon diffusion anisotropy may be studied with a multiple b value approach, yielding transverse and longitudinal diffusion coefficients. In this pilot study, we explore the potential of 129Xe MRI for the evaluation of diffusion anisotropy changes in a small group of COPD subjects compared to healthy volunteers.
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