31.10.2024

The diagnosis and assessment of lung diseases often presents medical professionals with major challenges. Traditional methods such as computed tomography (CT) offer detailed structural images of the lungs, but involve radiation exposure for patients and provide no information on regional lung function.

Image: Two men in an examination room; one sits on an MRI couch, the other stands next to it; Copyright: Dr. Andreas Voskrebenzev/MHH

Developed the PREFUL method for regional lung imaging in MRI: Dr. Andreas Voskrebenzev, physicist (left) and Professor Dr. Jens Vogel-Claussen (right), Senior Consultant at the Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at the MHH.

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How the PREFUL MRI technique works

PREFUL stands for "phase-resolved functional lung" and enables the continuous recording of lung function over the entire respiratory and cardiac cycle. This procedure was published in the Journal of Visualized Experiments as a comprehensive guide, both as a specialist article and as a video tutorial. Researchers led by Prof. Vogel-Claussen have designed the method so that it can be performed with standard MRI equipment and requires no additional equipment or personnel.

The PREFUL method uses MRI to detect changes in lung tissue during the respiratory cycle and measures blood flow and ventilation of the lungs in high temporal resolution. "This now enables us to quantify regional lung function in early-stage lung diseases, improve therapy monitoring and also predict disease progression after lung transplantation, for example," explains Prof. Vogel-Claussen.

Advantages of PREFUL MRI: Precise results without additional equipment

PREFUL MRI offers numerous advantages over previous methods. According to MRI physicist Dr. Andreas Voskrebenzev, who played a key role in developing the technology, this imaging offers "spatially resolved functional information on exactly where in the lung the problem is located" and reduces the stress for patients as it does not require radiation exposure or breathing stops.

An additional advantage is that PREFUL MRI does not require specially developed MRI software and can be performed on standard equipment. Clinics and radiology practices benefit from this, as no additional equipment or personnel are required.

Areas of application and clinical testing

PREFUL-MRI has been tested in various studies to investigate the function and precision of the method in different lung diseases. One important area of application is the diagnosis of COPD, where the method showed that respiratory function improved significantly after inhalation treatment. "This was directly visible in the lungs," explains Dr. Voskrebenzev. Other areas of application include the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension and COVID-19.

Access to the PREFUL MRI method for radiology practices and clinics

The start-up "BioVisioneers", founded by MHH researchers, offers the PREFUL app for institutions that would like to avoid having to implement the PREFUL method themselves. This software is available for a fee and allows the PREFUL MRI technique to be used immediately, so that radiology practices and clinics can also benefit from it without having to make any major changes.

MEDICA-tradefair.com; Source: Hannover Medical School 

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