Assessment of hyperpolarized 3He lung MRI for regional evaluation of interventional therapy: a pilot study in pediatric cystic fibrosis.

PURPOSE

To determine whether regional changes in lung ventilation in a group of pediatric cystic fibrosis (CF) patients following a course of chest physiotherapy could be detected with (3)He MRI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The reproducibility of lung ventilation volume measurements obtained with (3)He lung magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was established in a group of five children with CF age 6-15 years. The same methodology was then used to evaluate whether standard chest physiotherapy (percussion and drainage) had any immediate effect on regional ventilated lung volumes in a further group of nine age-matched CF children (5-15 years).

RESULTS

Global lung ventilation volumes remained the same within the limits of sensitivity derived from the reproducibility study; however, regional lung ventilation was observed to change in most patients after therapy.

CONCLUSION

(3)He MRI can be successfully used in children with CF, and has the sensitivity to detect regional quantitative changes in lung ventilation following chest physiotherapy.