Characterization and Detection of Physiologic Lung Changes Before and After Placement of Bronchial Valves Using Hyperpolarized Helium-3 MR Imaging

HHe ventilation MRI detected an increase in whole-lung volume and an interlobar fissure shift indicative of increased ventilation of lower relative to upper lobes. Reduced ADC values suggest increased ventilation to healthy lower lobes at the expense of more diseased, expanded alveolar spaces in the upper lobes distal to BV placement. These results suggest that this ionizing radiation-free method of examining the lungs may offer functional and structural information useful in BV intervention planning.