Xenon-enhanced dual-energy CT lung ventilation imaging: techniques and clinical applications.

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to review the techniques, clinically relevant potential applications, and limitations of xenon-enhanced dual-energy CT of the chest. The functional evaluation of lung ventilation may be of great importance to patients with pulmonary disease. Many measures are used to assess pulmonary function, but the results are estimates of only global status rather than the regional distribution of disease. With the introduction of dual-energy CT, regional lung ventilation function can be assessed with inhaled xenon gas. This technique yields not only high-spatial-resolution anatomic information but also information about regional ventilation.