Editing Magnetic resonance imaging (section)

=== Hyperpolarized gas MRI ===
{{Main|Hyperpolarized gas MRI}}

Traditional MRI generates poor images of lung tissue because there are fewer water molecules with protons that can be excited by the magnetic field. Using hyperpolarized gas an MRI scan can identify ventilation defects in the lungs. Before the scan, a patient is asked to inhale hyperpolarized [[xenon]] mixed with a buffer gas of helium or nitrogen. The resulting lung images are much higher quality than with traditional MRI.