Pulmonary function in sarcoidosis: Comparison between matrix pencil decomposition MRI at 0.55T and lung function tests

Motivation: Sarcoidosis is a systemic inflammatory disease in particular affecting lung tissue, thus there is a need for non-invasive and ionizing radiation free technique to assess regional lung function. Goal(s): To examine correlations between functional lung MRI and pulmonary lung function tests in patients with sarcoidosis. Approach: Lung ventilation and perfusion was assessed using matrix pencil decomposition MRI at a low-field 0.55T MR-scanner in sarcoidosis patients and a control group of healthy volunteers. Conventional lung function tests in patients were performed with spirometry and body plethysmography. Results: Strong correlations between the functional lung MRI and the metrics from conventional pulmonary function tests were observed. Impact: To our knowledge, this is the first study focused on the evaluation of lung function using MRI in sarcoidosis patients. Our results support the use of MRI as a non-invasive diagnostic tool to assess lung function in patients with sarcoidosis.