Fast oxygen-enhanced multi-slice MR imaging of the human lung using integrated parallel acquisition techniques (iPAT)

Introduction: Oxygen-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the lung allows spatially resolved visualization of oxygen diffusion from the alveoli into the capillaries of the lung [1, 2]. For many pulmonary diseases, this method appears to be an ideal supplement to perfusion imaging of the lung [3]. Hence, short examination durations are desirable in order to integrate oxygen-enhanced MRI of the lung, perfusion imaging, and other techniques like pulmonary MR angiography into one examination protocol. Integrated parallel acquisition techniques (iPAT) allow for shorter acquisition times and can improve image quality in single-shot imaging sequences. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate iPAT methods for oxygenenhanced lung imaging in combination with an optimized respiratory and cardiac triggering scheme [4].