Feasibility of quantifying the mechanical properties of lung parenchyma in a small‐animal model using 1H magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) |
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| Authors: | Kiaran P. McGee PhD Rolf D. Hubmayr MD David Levin MD PhD Richard L. Ehman MD |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota;2. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota |
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| Abstract: | Purpose To evaluate the feasibility of spatially resolving the shear modulus of lung parenchyma using conventional 1H magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) imaging techniques in a small animal model. Materials and Methods A 10‐cm diameter transmit‐receive radiofrequency coil was modified to include a specimen stage, an MRE pneumatic drum driver, and needle system. MRE was performed on 10 female Sprague–Dawley rats using a 1H spin‐echo based MRE imaging sequence with a field of view of 7 cm and slice thickness of 5 mm. Air‐filled lungs were imaged at transpulmonary inflation pressures of 5, 10, and 15 cm H2O while fluid‐filled lungs were imaged after infusion of 4 mL of normal saline. Results The average shear modulus of air‐filled lungs was 0.840 ± 0.0524 kPa, 1.07 ± 0.114 kPa and 1.30 ± 0.118 kPa at 5, 10, and 15 cm H2O, respectively. Analysis of variance indicated that these population means were statistically significantly different from one another (F‐value = 26.279, P = 0.00004). The shear modulus of the fluid‐filled lungs was 1.65 ± 0.360 kPa. Conclusion It is feasible to perform lung MRE in small animals using conventional MR imaging technologies. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;29:838–845. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. |
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| Keywords: | shear modulus transpulmonary pressure lungs magnetic resonance elastography |
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