Revolutionizing Lung Disease Diagnosis: MU Health Care’s Adoption of Xenon MRI Technology
Recently, MU Health Care has become the second hospital in the U.S. to utilize xenon MRI technology for lung scans. This cutting-edge technology shows promise in revolutionizing the evaluation of lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, COPD, and cancer.
Unlike traditional MRI which focuses on hydrogen atoms in body tissue, xenon MRI targets hyperpolarized xenon gas. Patients inhale this non-reactive substance during the scan, which is then held in the lungs for a brief period of time, resulting in more accurate imaging of the lungs. The detailed 3D images produced by xenon MRI provide clinicians with a comprehensive view of the ventilated lung airspaces. Additionally, the test can quantify lung microstructure and assess detailed aspects of lung function such as gas exchange.
The adoption of xenon MRI is a part of MU Health Care’s NextGen Precision Health initiative, which aims to collaborate with researchers from the University of Missouri and other universities within the UM System to advance precision health technologies for improved patient care. With this new technology, gaps in the diagnostic process can now be filled and diagnosing lung diseases is no longer like solving a puzzle with missing pieces. Dr. Zach Holliday, a pulmonologist at MU Health Care emphasizes the significance of xenon MRI in helping complete the puzzle of understanding and treating lung diseases effectively.
