Since the first magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam was performed in 1977, the relatively young imaging modality has been making strides in the medical field. Offering higher image resolution and flexibility, MRI has quickly become the forefront for imaging almost every part of the human body in great detail. However, the clinical application of MRI in pulmonological pathology remains limited. While computed tomography, or CT has long been the ""gold standard"" for lung imaging, ultra-short echo time (UTE) sequences have the potential to make magnetic resonance imaging a worthy competitor. Ultra-short echo times are suitable for the extremely short T2* values of lung parenchyma, allowing for greater signal-to-noise ratio and resolution. Furthermore, the shorter durations of UTE scans allow for rapid imaging and motion compensation in patients who are unable to remain still or participate in breath-hold sequences. With the absence of ionizing radiation, UTE-MRI could be a beneficial method of imaging pediatric patients who 1) may not be able to follow breath-hold instructions, 2) may be subjected to cumulative ionizing radiation exposure from repeated CT imaging, and 3) may benefit from higher detection rates of subtle opacities and smaller pulmonary nodules. Although it may not ever completely replace computed tomography in the field of pulmonary imaging, UTE-MRI serves as a promising alternative for pediatric patients suffering from pulmonary pathologies that require detailed diagnostic images.

Sanya would like to thank her faculty sponsor Marcey Kennedy for their support of this project.