Dual-center repeatability and comparison of 3D phase-resolved functional lung (PREFUL) ventilation MRI at 3T

Motivation: 3D phase-resolved functional lung (PREFUL) MRI provides evaluation of ventilation during free-breathing without contrast agents. The repeatability of 3D PREFUL at 3T is unknown. Goal(s): To assess the performance of 3D PREFUL in dual-center setting and to compare 3T measurement to 1.5T. Approach: Dual-center 3D PREFUL MRI in healthy volunteersResults: 3D PREFUL was feasible at 3T scanners at both centers. The repeatability assessments showed a bias only for one parameter, where it was negligibly small. Significant differences of 3D PREFUL ventilation parameters were observed between 1.5T and 3T, suggesting for pronounced susceptibility effects at 3T. Impact: Despite the pronounced differences in ventilation parameters across the field strengths, consistently reproducible surrogates of ventilation markers were derived from 3D PREFUL MRI using a patient-friendly acquisition without the need for contrast agents and during free tidal breathing.