Hyperpolarised 129Xe Gas Lung MRI B0 Field Strength Comparisons at 1.5 T and 3 T

Xiaojun Xu¹, Graham Norquay¹, Steven R. Parnell¹, Martin H. Deppe¹, Salma Ajraoui¹, Ralph Hashoian², Helen Marshall¹, Paul Griffiths¹, Juan Parra-Robles¹, J

In this study, the SNR of hyperpolarised ¹²⁹Xe human lung MRI was compared at 1.5 T and 3 T. Experiments were performed at both B₀ fields with quadrature double Helmholtz transmit-receive chest coils of the same geometry. Differences in sensitivity between the two RF receiver systems and body coils that are due to factors not directly related to field strength were assessed and normalised by using a thermally-polarised ¹²⁹Xe phantom. There were no significant differences observed in image SNR of ¹²⁹Xe ventilation lung images obtained at the two field strengths.