Lung MRI Screening protocol at 0.55T: Initial Experience in Healthy Volunteers

Motivation: The current clinical standard for screening lung imaging is chest CT, which is associated with radiation exposure and only provides static, anatomical information of the lung and concurrently imaged heart. Goal(s): We are exploring an alternative method for lung pathology screening. Approach: Using a 0.55T MRI scanner and the proposed screening Lung MRI protocol, we conducted lung MRI scans on 10 healthy volunteers. Results: Initial assessments demonstrate concurrent evaluation of the anatomy, motion, and tissue characteristics of the lung and heart in around 25 minutes. Impact: We propose a screening Lung MRI protocol as a potential alternative imaging option in screening as well as follow up imaging in particular conditions, with the benefit of eliminating radiation dose and additional respiratory and cardiac motion and tissue information