Can New Lung Imaging Technique Help Asthma Sufferers?

Lung imaging – it’s an example of exactly how far medical science has progressed in the last few years. While in the past we had to rely on inefficient MRI scans to diagnose problems with the lungs, now it seems that a new lung imaging technique could provide a clearer picture. This is great news for asthma sufferers, as the better images could lead to doctors getting a more comprehensive understanding of exactly what is wrong with their lungs.

While MRI scans still work and are very effective at other diagnosing conditions, with asthma it’s not so simple. The scan simply shows the lungs as a black space, as the space left by the air does not leave a magnetic signal. This can lead to doctors making inaccurate assessments of their patients, which can mean poorer levels of treatment.

The new xenon imaging works by getting the patient to inhale xenon before using a specially adapted scanner. This provides a much clearer image which can then be used to make a more effective diagnosis.

This system is being trialled in Churchill Hospital in Oxford and, if successful, it’s hoped that the scheme could be launched nationwide. Oxford is currently one of a very small number of institutions that is licenced to create the special ‘hyperpolarised’ xenon needed for the imaging to work.

This technique should make it easier for doctors to identify mild forms of the disease which have so far been very difficult to diagnose. It’s thought that if asthma can be caught at this weak, early stage it can be possible to treat patients quickly to ensure it doesn’t become any worse.

One of the main benefits of the imaging is it gives full details of how the lung is functioning. This means that doctors will be able to see which part of the lung is safe to target for certain kinds of treatment.