Three‐dimensional imaging of ventilation dynamics in asthmatics using multiecho projection acquisition with constrained reconstruction

The purpose of this work is to detect dynamic gas trapping in three dimensions during forced exhalation at isotropic high spatial resolution and high temporal resolution using hyperpolarized helium‐3 MRI. Ten subjects underwent hyperpolarized helium‐3 MRI and multidetector CT. MRI was performed throughout inspiration, breath‐hold, and forced expiration. A multiecho three‐dimensional projection acquisition was used to improve data collection efficiency and an iterative constrained reconstruction was implemented to improve signal to noise ratio (SNR) and increase robustness to motion. Two radiologists evaluated the dynamic MRI and breath‐held multidetector CT data for gas and air trapping, respectively. Phantom studies showed the proposed technique significantly improved depiction of moving objects compared to view‐sharing methods. Gas trapping was detected using MRI in five of the six asthmatic subjects who displayed air trapping with multidetector CT. Locations in disagreement were found to represent small to moderate regions of air trapping. The proposed technique provides whole‐lung three‐dimensional imaging of respiration dynamics at high spatial and temporal resolution and compares well to the current standard, multidetector CT. While multidetector CT can provide information about static regional air trapping, it is unable to depict dynamics in a setting more comparable to a spirometry maneuver and explore the longitudinal time evolution of the trapped regions. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.