ABSTRACT
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During recent years, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been established as a first-line imaging
modality for a number of indications in various parts of the body. In the lungs, however, MRI has not
gained the importance of computed tomography (CT) for the radiological evaluation of respiratory
disease, and has only been considered as an alternative imaging modality when findings were
inconclusive or in the case of contraindication to iodinated contrast media. On the other hand, MRI
offers potential advantages over CT for the assessment of respiratory disease. In addition to the lower
toxicity of the usedMRcontrastmedia and the lack of ionizing radiation,MRI provides amuch better
soft tissue contrast than CT and offers a variety of contrast options (e.g., T
-weighting, T
-weighting,
fat saturation) [1]. One of themost important advantages ofMRI, however, is the ability of functional
measurements allowing for an evaluation of lung function on a regional basis. This chapter will
discuss the various technical aspects of clinical pulmonary MRI, as well as its clinical application to
different kinds of respiratory diseases.
