Visualization of airways

The hyper-reactivity of airway smooth muscle associated with asthma, the decrease of caliber associated with chronic bronchitis, or the loss of mechanical tethering and collapse associated with emphysema all result in decreased conductance of airways. Presently the gold-standard for depicting airways is x-ray Computer Tomography (CT). While this high-resolution imaging modality is fast and precise, it may not be optimal for all situations.

MRI offers the possibility of three-dimensional imaging without ionizing radiation. Consequently it could be preferred for multiple scans over an extended period of time, especially for children. Furthermore, MRI with MagniXene™ of MagniLium™ may be beneficially exploited to visualize distributions of gas in airways for shallow or partial breaths, combining structural and functional information. Measurements of gas velocity have also been performed. Airway visualization may find greatest utility when combined with one or more of the other protocols.