Delayed contrast dynamics as marker of regional impairment in pulmonary fibrosis using 5D MRI - a pilot study.

Objective: To analyse delayed contrast dynamics of fibrotic lesions in interstitial lung disease (ILD) using five dimensional (5D) MRI and to correlate contrast dynamics with disease severity.

Methods: 20 patients (mean age: 71 years; M:F, 13:7), with chronic fibrosing ILD: = 12 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and = 8 non-IPF, underwent thin-section multislice CT as part of the standard diagnostic workup and additionally MRI of the lung. 2 min after contrast injection, a radial gradient echo sequence with golden-angle spacing was acquired during 5 min of free-breathing, followed by 5D image reconstruction.