Quantitative assessment of pulmonary perfusion with dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI

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Abstract
The feasibility of qualitative assessment of pulmonary perfusion using dynamic contrast enhanced MRI with ultra‐short TE has recently been demonstrated. In the current study, quantitative analysis was attempted based on the indicator dilution principle using a pig model of pulmonary embolism. The results were compared with the absolute pulmonary perfusion obtained with colored microspheres. The inverse of apparent mean transit time (1/τapp), distribution volume (V), and V/τapp were correlated well with the absolute lung perfusion. This study demonstrates that MR has the potential to evaluate pulmonary perfusion quantitatively. Magn Reson Med 42:1033–1038, 1999.