Helium MRI useful in Early Emphysema

In an article-Early emphysematous changes in asymptomatic smokers: detection with 3He MR imaging by Fain SB et al in Radiology 2006 Jun;239(3):875-83 Authors prospectively compared apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements derived from diffusion-weighted hyperpolarized helium 3 (3He) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with functional and structural findings using spirometric tests and thin-section computed tomography (CT) of the lungs in asymptomatic smokers and healthy nonsmokers of similar age. Correlations between mean ADC values and pulmonary function test measurements for diagnosing emphysema, especially Dlco, were statistically significant.