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General Requirements of MRI of the Lung and Suggested Standard Protocol

  • Chapter
MRI of the Lung

Part of the book series: Medical Radiology ((Med Radiol Diagn Imaging))

Abstract

Among the modalities for lung imaging, proton magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been the latest to be introduced into clinical practice. MRI is taking its place as an alternative and supplementary, third method for the assessment of pulmonary diseases besides chest radiography (the most commonly employed first line test for chest disorders) and computed tomography (CT, so far the most comprehensive and detailed modality for cross-sectional and three-dimensional imaging of the lung). Once broadly available and sufficiently robust, it will likely become a modality of choice for cases in which exposure to ionizing radiation should be strictly avoided. Moreover, lung MRI offers particular advantages beyond the scope of CT such as dynamic studies of respiratory mechanics and first pass perfusion imaging. This chapter discusses the strategies to overcome major challenges for lung MRI such as motion artifacts and low signal. A set of protocols for different clinical applications to be used as a “starter kit” by any interested reader of this book will be suggested. This comprises a basic selection of non-contrast-enhanced sequences and can be extended by contrast-enhanced series: Breath-hold T1-weighted 3D gradient echo sequences (3D-GRE) are applied for the detection of solid lesions and airways. T2-weighted fast spin echo sequences (FSE) contribute to detection of infiltrates and soft lesions, T2-weighted FSE with fat suppression or inversion recovery series visualize enlarged lymph nodes and skeletal lesions. Steady-state free precession sequences (SSFP) in free breathing contribute to the detection of pulmonary embolism, cardiac dysfunction, and impairment of respiratory mechanics. Tumors, suspicious pleural effusions, and inflammatory diseases warrant additional contrast-enhanced sequences. Fast gradient echo imaging with dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE) for the assessment of lung and tumor perfusion contributes to imaging of thromboembolic vascular and obstructive airway diseases and characterization of lung lesions. Additional diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) with fat signal suppression can be applied for the assessment of lymph nodes and lung lesion characterization.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Juergen Biederer

  2. Radiologie Darmstadt, Gross-Gerau County Hospital, Wilhelm-Seipp-Str. 3, D-64521, Gross-Gerau, Germany

    Juergen Biederer

  3. German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), Heidelberg, Germany

    Juergen Biederer

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  1. Juergen Biederer
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Correspondence to Juergen Biederer .

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  1. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

    Hans-Ulrich Kauczor  & Mark Oliver Wielpütz  & 

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Biederer, J. (2017). General Requirements of MRI of the Lung and Suggested Standard Protocol. In: Kauczor, HU., Wielpütz, M.O. (eds) MRI of the Lung. Medical Radiology(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2017_98

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2017_98

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-42616-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-42617-4

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