With its solubility and abundant chemical shift in different tissues, hyperpolarized 129Xe is uniquely suited to imaging pulmonary function. Previous efforts have demonstrated the ability to map gas transfer to interstitial barrier tissues and red blood cells (RBCs) using the gas-phase signal as a reference. Here, we extend this analysis by using a healthy reference cohort to establish relevant thresholds for quantitative display. With this methodology we now produce maps of ventilation, barrier uptake, and RBC transfer that demonstrate readily distinguishable patterns in a variety of obstructive, restrictive and vascular disorders.
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