Preliminary Investigation of Feasibility, Tolerability, and Image Quality of Perfluoropropane Ventilation MRI in Pediatric Participants

Motivation: Inert fluorinated gas MRI has potential as a lower cost alternative to hyperpolarized noble gas MRI for lung ventilation imaging. However, this technology has not yet been evaluated for use in pediatrics. Goal(s): To investigate the feasibility, tolerability, and image quality of inert fluorinated gas MRI with perfluoropropane (PFP) in pediatric participants. Approach: PFP MRI was performed in pediatric participants. Image quality, SNR, and ventilation defect percent (VDP) were evaluated. Results: PFP MRI was well-tolerated and successfully performed in all pediatric recruits. Image quality was good and permitted quantification of ventilation defect percent (VDP). Impact: PFP MRI was determined to be feasible in pediatrics, yielding ventilation images and image quality similar to hyperpolarized gas MRI. This may permit more widespread adoption for the study of pediatric lung disease in the future.