Author Spotlight: Using Hyperpolarized Xenon-129 MRI to Study Lung Diseases

In hyperpolarized xenon MRI, the actual inhaled gas is directly imaged. The gas uniformly distributes itself in lungs of healthy individuals, but in those with lung disease, such as asthma, COPD or cystic fibrosis, it does not. We aim to understand these diseases better using this technology.

X-ray computed tomography, or CT, provides the current clinical standard in pulmonary structural imaging, but involves ionizing radiation and shows only lung tissue, not the inhaled gas. Nuclear medicine, by inhaled or injected radio tracers can also be used to assess pulmonary ventilation and profusion, but is ionizing and relatively low resolution. Xenon MRI, however, provides a high resolution snapshot of an individual’s pulmonary ventilation and gas exchange.

Implementing xenon MRI is uniquely challenging, requiring specialized hardware, xenon imaging coils, and sequence development. The journey doesn’t end there. The acquired data must undergo meticulous reconstruction and analysis.

Without proper expertise, these tasks can be daunting, leading to frustrating and expensive outcomes. This protocol offers insight into quality control, troubleshooting, and tools for xenon MRI sites, We explored the setup of hyperpolarizer labs, xenon MRI coils, data acquisition consideration, and image properties. Our goal is to guide the audience through potential errors, challenges, and occurrences that may impact image quality or outcomes.

Troubleshooting xenon MRI issues is necessary to mitigate problems in real life. Given the absence of a dedicated hyperpolarized gas infrastructure and limited support from scanner manufacturers, quality control tasks fall solely on individual labs. This video aims to equip viewers with practical tips for addressing challenges and ensuring successful data acquisition.