Groundbreaking real-time lung scans to revolutionize respiratory health [Video]

Revolutionary Lung Scan Offers Real-Time View of Treatment Effectiveness

New imaging technique could transform diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases

A groundbreaking lung scanning method developed by researchers at Newcastle University in the UK promises to revolutionize the way we diagnose and treat respiratory diseases like asthma, COPD, and post-lung transplant complications.

The technique, detailed in two recent papers published in Radiology and JHLT Open, provides a real-time view of how air flows in and out of the lungs during breathing. By using a specialized gas, perfluoropropane, visible on MRI scans, researchers can pinpoint poorly ventilated areas within the lungs, enabling earlier diagnosis and more targeted treatment.

“Our scans show where there is patchy ventilation in patients with lung disease, and show us which parts of the lung improve with treatment,” explained Pete Thelwall, Professor of Magnetic Resonance Physics and Director of the Center for in Vivo Imaging at Newcastle University. “For exmaple, when we scan a patient as they use their asthma …