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Abstract #1469

On the Validity of 3He Diffusion MRI Evidence of Neo-Alveolarization in Lungs: The Effects of Branching Structure

Juan Parra-Robles1, Jim M. Wild1

1Unit of Academic Radiology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom


In this work we use computer simulations to assess the effect that airways branching has on measurements of ADC in the growing lung. Our results show that reported evidence of alveolarization obtained from helium diffusion MR is not conclusive; since for branching airways geometry, measured ADC changes may be the result of different types of structural changes and hence no discrimination can be made between airway enlargement and alveolarization.