Recently, MU Health Care became the second hospital in the U.S. to implement xenon MRI technology for lung scans. This innovative technology has the potential to revolutionize the evaluation of lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, COPD, and cancer.
Unlike traditional MRI diagnostics which focus on hydrogen atoms in body tissue, xenon MRI targets hyperpolarized xenon gas. Patients inhale this non-reactive substance during the scan, which is then held in the lungs for a brief period of time, resulting in more accurate imaging of the lungs. The detailed 3D images produced by xenon MRI provide clinicians with a comprehensive view of the ventilated lung airspaces. Additionally, the test can quantify lung microstructure and assess detailed aspects of lung function such as gas exchange.
The adoption of xenon MRI is a part of MU Health Care’s NextGen Precision Health initiative which aims to collaborate with researchers from the University of Missouri and other universities within the UM System to advance precision health technologies for improved patient care. With this new technology, gaps in the diagnostic process can now be filled. Dr. Zach Holliday, a pulmonologist at MU Health Care emphasizes that xenon MRI is a gamechanger in understanding and treating lung diseases effectively.