New scan for lung diseases

People with chronic lung disease and asthma could soon be offered better treatment thanks to a new type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.

Researchers from the University of Nottingham in the UK, said their specifically-adapted MRI scanner allows doctors to virtually ‘see inside’ the lungs of patients.

The scanner uses a harmless gas called Xenon 129. Unlike air, this gas shows up clearly on an MRI scan, giving an ‘exquisitely-detailed picture’ of the lungs, the researchers said.

The new method also shows the gas being absorbed into the bloodstream, giving doctors a clear idea of how the lungs are transferring life-sustaining oxygen.

“This research has huge implications for the treatment and monitoring of lung disease,” the researchers said.

At present X-rays or CT scans are used to investigate lung diseases. But X-rays and CTs only show the structure of the lung and don’t reveal any detail on how well the lungs are functioning. They also involve a small exposure of radiation, which can limit repeat scanning.  

The MRI research was published by the University of Nottingham.

[Posted: Wed 14/10/2009]