Radiation-free Xenon MRI helps monitor children’s lungs

United Kingdom: Children with chronic lung disease often need repeated scans, but CTs expose them to radiation. Researchers at the University of Sheffield’s POLARIS group now offer another option.

Their technique uses hyperpolarized Xenon-129 gas. Children inhale it, hold their breath for a few seconds, and an MRI captures detailed images of the lungs.“Patients inhale the Xenon gas, hold their breath for a few seconds while the scanner collects the images,” said Professor Jim Wild, who leads POLARIS.

The images show not just lung structure, but how well air moves and how gases transfer into the blood — without any ionizing radiation.

At Sheffield Children’s Hospital, the method is already being used to detect early lung problems in children with cystic fibrosis. It has revealed issues that CT scans missed. Scans take just minutes, with some new versions as fast as 4 seconds.

The team is now working with GE HealthCare to adapt existing MRI machines for xenon imaging, aiming to make the technology available at more hospitals worldwide.

For families facing years of monitoring, it means detailed lung checks without added radiation exposure.