Pulmonary disorders: ventilation-perfusion MR imaging with animal models

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the capability of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to assess alteration in regional pulmonary ventilation and perfusion with animal models of airway obstruction and pulmonary embolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Airway obstruction was created by inflating a 5-F balloon catheter into a secondary bronchus. Pulmonary emboli were created by injecting thrombi into the inferior vena cava. Regional pulmonary ventilation was assessed with 100% oxygen as a T1 contrast agent. Regional pulmonary perfusion was assessed with a two-dimensional fast low-angle shot, or FLASH, sequence with short repetition and echo times after intravenous administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine. RESULTS: Matched ventilation and perfusion abnormalities were identified in all animals with airway obstruction. MR perfusion defects without ventilation abnormalities were seen in all animals with pulmonary emboli. CONCLUSION: Ventilation and perfusion MR imaging are able to provide regional pulmonary functional information with high spatial and temporal resolution. The ability of MR imaging to assess both the magnitude and regional distribution of pulmonary functional impairment could have an important effect on the evaluation of lung disease.