Breath-Holding Techniques for Improved Liver MRI

Overseen By John P Roberts, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco

Disqualifiers: Implants, Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Pregnancy, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether different breath-holding techniques, with or without extra oxygen, can improve the quality of abdominal MRI images. Researchers aim to determine if using oxygen while holding breath reduces motion blur in the images. Participants will try two breath-holding methods during an MRI scan at UCSF: one with oxygen and one without. This trial suits healthy adults who can remain still during the scan and follow instructions independently. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the opportunity to contribute to advancements in MRI imaging techniques.

Do I need to stop taking my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that these breath-holding techniques are safe for MRI scans?

Research shows that holding your breath during MRI scans is generally safe. Studies have examined how this technique, with or without extra oxygen, can enhance image clarity. These studies found no major safety problems. Holding your breath is a common part of MRI scans, and most people manage it well.

Adding oxygen while holding your breath is also considered safe. Providing extra oxygen is a standard medical practice and is usually well-tolerated by healthy individuals. No reports of serious issues have emerged when oxygen is used in this manner.

In summary, current research suggests that both breath-holding and using oxygen during MRI scans are safe for healthy adults. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about these breath-holding techniques for liver MRI because they aim to enhance image quality without the need for invasive procedures or contrast agents. Unlike standard liver imaging methods that often require patients to breathe normally or hold their breath in less optimal conditions, these techniques explore breath-holding at the end of expiration with and without oxygen supplementation. This could lead to clearer, more accurate images, potentially improving diagnosis and treatment planning for liver conditions. By refining how MRIs are conducted, this approach may make liver imaging more accessible and less stressful for patients.

What evidence suggests that these breath-holding techniques could improve liver MRI image quality?

This trial will compare different breath-holding techniques to improve liver MRI image quality. Research has shown that holding one's breath after exhaling can reduce movement during an MRI scan, resulting in clearer images. Participants in one arm of this trial will perform breath-holding at end-expiration without oxygen supplementation, while those in another arm will do so with oxygen supplementation. One study found that this method significantly reduced motion-related blurring compared to holding one's breath after inhaling. Research on improving liver MRI scans suggests that adding oxygen while holding one's breath might enhance this effect. Thus, using breath-holding techniques, especially with oxygen, can enhance MRI image quality by reducing blurring from movement. ^{3 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

John P Roberts, MD

Principal Investigator

University of California, San Francisco

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy adults aged 18-75 who can safely undergo an MRI scan. They'll be trained to hold their breath in specific ways and will participate in a single study visit at UCSF China Basin Imaging Center.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 18 and 75 years old.

Subject must be able to hear and understand instructions without assistive devices

Subject must provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

My weight is over 499 lbs.

Subjects that have metallic/conductive or electrically/magnetically active implants without Magnetic Resonance (MR) Safe or Magnetic Resonance (MR) Conditional labeling, with the exception of dental devices/fillings, surgical clips, and surgical staples determined to be safe for MRI scanning by a physician investigator

Subjects that have implants with MR Unsafe labeling

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Training

Participants are trained on breath-hold procedures to improve consistency and comfort during scanning

1 session

1 visit (in-person)

MRI Session

Participants undergo a non-contrast abdominal MRI scan using two breath-hold conditions: with and without oxygen

1 hour

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the MRI session

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Breath-hold conditions

Trial Overview The study tests if holding your breath, with or without extra oxygen, during an abdominal MRI scan improves image quality by reducing motion artifacts. Participants will try both techniques in one non-contrast MRI session.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Functional Residual Capacity/End-Expiration Without Oxygen Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will undergo abdominal MRI scans while performing breath-holding at end-expiration without oxygen supplementation. T2-weighted and MRCP sequences will be acquired during breath-hold trials.

Group II: Functional Residual Capacity/End-Expiration With Oxygen Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will undergo abdominal MRI scans while performing breath-holding at end-expiration with oxygen supplementation administered prior to. T2-weighted and MRCP sequences will be acquired during breath-hold trials.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, San Francisco

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,636

Recruited

19,080,000+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.ucsf.edu clinicaltrials.ucsf.edu/trial/NCT07135401

Optimizing Liver MRI Using Breath-Holding With and Without ... The study aims to optimize abdominal MRI protocols by evaluating the impact of breath-holding techniques, with and without oxygen ...

2. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18632237/

Functional residual capacity breath hold for subtraction ... Conclusion: The liver positions with FRC B-H were markedly more reproducible than those with VE B-H. To improve the registration accuracy of subtraction dynamic ...

3. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-magnetic-resonance-imaging-mri-11-2025-f8563

Breath-Holding Techniques for Improved Liver MRI Trial Overview The study tests if holding your breath, with or without extra oxygen, during an abdominal MRI scan improves image quality by reducing motion ...

4. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/51406829_Functional_residual_capacity_breath_hold_for_subtraction_image_of_dynamic_liver_MRI

Functional residual capacity breath hold for subtraction ... In dynamic liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies, there are problems with misregistration when subtraction images are processed.

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12332653/

Visualized breath-hold training for reducing respiratory ... Conclusions. VBT effectively reduces respiratory motion artifacts and enhances image quality in liver DCE-MRI by improving patient compliance.

6. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07135401

Optimizing Liver MRI Using Breath-Holding With and ... The study aims to optimize abdominal MRI protocols by evaluating the impact of breath-holding techniques, with and without oxygen supplementation, on motion ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12530370/

Overcoming breath-hold difficulties with GRASP VIBE for ... This initiative demonstrates GRASP VIBE as an effective solution for breath-hold challenges encountered in MRI liver and pancreas scans.

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0009926011000286

Breath-hold T2-weighted MRI of the liver at 3 T using ... Use of the BLADE technique for T2-weighted MRI of the liver at 3 T may lead to a significant improvement in image artefacts and improved PPV for lesion ...

9. ajronline.org ajronline.org/doi/10.2214/ajr.143.6.1175

Magnetic resonance imaging with respiratory gating Respiratory gating is a practical and useful technique for improving the contrast and spatial resolution of SE images of the upper abdomen and chest.