MRI Pulmonary Perfusion Imaging as a Quantitative Predictor of Regional Pulmonary Vascular Resistance in Pulmonary Hypertension

Adam Telfer¹, Robin Condliffe², David Capener¹, Andrew Swift¹, Smitha Rajaram¹, Helen Marshall¹, Judith Hurdman², Charles Elliot², David Kiely², Jim Wild¹

This abstract describes a potential method for the non invasive estimation of Pulmonary Vascular Resistance in Pulmonary Hypertension by the use of gadolinium contrast enhanced MRI of the pulmonary vasculature. The key variable is the Time to Peak Signal Intensity (TTP) in the lung fields from initial detection of contrast in the Superior Vena Cava, Right Atrium, Right Ventricle and Pulmonary Artery. The method presented uses perfusion data from a standard contrast enhanced imaging sequence and involves only relatively quick additional calculations which may give it an advantage as a potential clinical tool.