Longitudinal Study of Helium-3 and Xenon-129 Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Hyperpolarized helium-3 (3He) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has recently emerged as another research approach for the non-invasive measurement of lung structure and function, including conduction of gas through airways and into airspaces. Preliminary studies suggest that 3He MRI may be ideally suited for longitudinal COPD research, which is a likely target application of this novel technology. 3He MRI provides a complementary and alternative method for evaluating COPD and may be superior to CT because it allows simultaneous visualization of both airway and airspace structure and function.