In vivo diffusion-weighted MRI using perfluorinated gases: ADC comparison between healthy and elastase-treated rat lungs

Abstract

Purpose MRI with perfluorinated gases has been shown as an alternative to hyperpolarized gases to image both microstructure and gas diffusivity in the lung. The aim of this study was to measure diffusion restriction of C 2F6 in rat lungs and to compare the different levels of restriction between healthy and emphysematous tissue. Methods For this purpose, two groups of rats - healthy and mono-lobar elastase-induced animals - were measured. While being ventilated with a mixture of C2F6 and oxygen four diffusion weighted 19F-images where acquired for each animal and corresponding ADC-maps were calculated. Results No significant apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) differences were found between healthy lungs; however, the elastase treated lungs showed a significant increase in ADC. Conclusion These results demonstrate that ADC measurements with C 2F6 are sensitive to the microstructure of rat lungs showing that the diffusion of this gas is limited to different levels in healthy and in emphysematous tissue. Magn Reson Med 70:1761-1764, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.