Abstract #4114

Evaluation of Signal-To-Noise Ratio, T2, and T2* for Hyperpolarized Helium-3 MRI of the Human Lung at Three Magnetic Field Strengths

Peter Komlosi¹, Talissa A. Altes¹, Kun Qing¹, Karen E. Mooney², G. Wilson Miller¹, Jaime F. Mata¹, Eduard E. De Lange¹, William A. Tobias², Gordon D. Cates Jr.², John P. Mugler, III¹

¹Department Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States; ²Department of Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States

Because the magnetization of hyperpolarized gases is independent of the static magnetic field strength of the MR scanner, there has been significant interest in the possibility of imaging at magnetic field strengths lower than those most commonly used for clinical MRI. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the field-strength dependence of hyperpolarized helium-3 signal-to-noise ratio, and T2 and T2* values, for MRI of the human lung between 0.4T and 1.5T. We found similar signal-to-noise ratio values at field strengths between 0.4T and 1.5T. T2 and T2* values demonstrated an inverse relationship to field strength, as expected.