Clinical Applications of Hyperpolarised Xenon-129 MRI

Conventional imaging modalities, the X-ray and CT, are essential diagnostic tools in respiratory medicine, providing qualitative information regarding the pattern and extent of pulmonary pathology. Neither provide information regarding the functional impact of pulmonary diseases and additional inves...

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Main Authors: Kher Lik Ng, James Grist, Fergus Gleeson, Emily Fraser
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: European Medical Journal 2024-12-01
Series:European Medical Journal
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Online Access:https://www.emjreviews.com/flagship-journal/article/editors-pick-clinical-applications-of-hyperpolarised-xenon-129-mri-j190123/
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author Kher Lik Ng
James Grist
Fergus Gleeson
Emily Fraser
author_facet Kher Lik Ng
James Grist
Fergus Gleeson
Emily Fraser
author_sort Kher Lik Ng
collection DOAJ
description Conventional imaging modalities, the X-ray and CT, are essential diagnostic tools in respiratory medicine, providing qualitative information regarding the pattern and extent of pulmonary pathology. Neither provide information regarding the functional impact of pulmonary diseases and additional investigations are required to assess this. Hyperpolarised xenon-129 MRI (HPX-MRI) is a non-invasive, ionising-free imaging modality that can provide functional measurements of ventilation and diffusion within the lung. The MRI-based technique involves the subject breathing in an inert gas that has been hyperpolarised to make it visible using MR spectroscopy. The gas mirrors the flow of oxygen through the bronchial tree, across the alveolar membrane, and into the pulmonary capillaries, and thus disruptions in the passage of gas due to ventilation and diffusion abnormalities can be visualised and quantified. Functional measurements of ventilation and gas exchange within regional areas of the lung can be obtained. HPX-MRI has the potential to detect early lung disease not yet evident using standard investigations and has been shown to be a sensitive modality to assess treatment responses. The role of HPX-MRI in respiratory medicine has the potential to be wide-reaching, but to date it remains largely a research tool. This review article summarises the current and possible future clinical applications of HPX-MRI in the investigation and management of lung diseases, pitched at a level comprehensible and relevant to the respiratory-focused clinicians.
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spelling doaj-art-5a3a400a39b94c80a6b772f2e7ce6d4c2025-08-20T02:55:24ZengEuropean Medical JournalEuropean Medical Journal2397-67642024-12-0194486110.33590/emj/UJRW1078Clinical Applications of Hyperpolarised Xenon-129 MRIKher Lik Ng0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4518-3085James Grist1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7223-4031Fergus Gleeson2Emily Fraser3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7449-5793Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK; University of Oxford, UKOxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UKOxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK; University of Oxford, UKOxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UKConventional imaging modalities, the X-ray and CT, are essential diagnostic tools in respiratory medicine, providing qualitative information regarding the pattern and extent of pulmonary pathology. Neither provide information regarding the functional impact of pulmonary diseases and additional investigations are required to assess this. Hyperpolarised xenon-129 MRI (HPX-MRI) is a non-invasive, ionising-free imaging modality that can provide functional measurements of ventilation and diffusion within the lung. The MRI-based technique involves the subject breathing in an inert gas that has been hyperpolarised to make it visible using MR spectroscopy. The gas mirrors the flow of oxygen through the bronchial tree, across the alveolar membrane, and into the pulmonary capillaries, and thus disruptions in the passage of gas due to ventilation and diffusion abnormalities can be visualised and quantified. Functional measurements of ventilation and gas exchange within regional areas of the lung can be obtained. HPX-MRI has the potential to detect early lung disease not yet evident using standard investigations and has been shown to be a sensitive modality to assess treatment responses. The role of HPX-MRI in respiratory medicine has the potential to be wide-reaching, but to date it remains largely a research tool. This review article summarises the current and possible future clinical applications of HPX-MRI in the investigation and management of lung diseases, pitched at a level comprehensible and relevant to the respiratory-focused clinicians.https://www.emjreviews.com/flagship-journal/article/editors-pick-clinical-applications-of-hyperpolarised-xenon-129-mri-j190123/129xeclinical applicationshyperpolarisedhyperpolarised xenon-129 (hpx)mrixenon
spellingShingle Kher Lik Ng
James Grist
Fergus Gleeson
Emily Fraser
Clinical Applications of Hyperpolarised Xenon-129 MRI
European Medical Journal
129xe
clinical applications
hyperpolarised
hyperpolarised xenon-129 (hpx)
mri
xenon
title Clinical Applications of Hyperpolarised Xenon-129 MRI
title_full Clinical Applications of Hyperpolarised Xenon-129 MRI
title_fullStr Clinical Applications of Hyperpolarised Xenon-129 MRI
title_full_unstemmed Clinical Applications of Hyperpolarised Xenon-129 MRI
title_short Clinical Applications of Hyperpolarised Xenon-129 MRI
title_sort clinical applications of hyperpolarised xenon 129 mri
topic 129xe
clinical applications
hyperpolarised
hyperpolarised xenon-129 (hpx)
mri
xenon
url https://www.emjreviews.com/flagship-journal/article/editors-pick-clinical-applications-of-hyperpolarised-xenon-129-mri-j190123/
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