Pulmonary functional imaging for patients with obstructive lung disease using UTE MRI

Motivation: This study aimed to assess the feasibility of using single breath-hold UTE MRI to quantify pulmonary function and its spatial uniformity in patients with obstructive lung disease. Goal(s): Comparison of FV in patients with different respiratory stages and correlation with PFTs. Approach: FV map was obtained from UTE MRI, and IQR of FV was calculated. Group differences of UTE parameters were compared, and correlation between UTE MRI with PFT parameters was assessed. Results: We found significant differences in whole lung FV and left lung FV among groups, with a positive correlation between FV and PFT parameters such as FEV1 and MMEF. Impact: This study demonstrates the potential of UTE MRI for assessing pulmonary function in obstructive lung disease patients. By providing regional functional information, UTE MRI might be a useful tool in lung disease management.