An interventional study of Breath-hold conditions in MRI and MRI Image Enhancement, sponsored by University of California, San Francisco. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-13.
Sponsored by University of California, San Francisco · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other
The goal of this interventional study (clinical trial) is to learn if different breath-holding techniques, with and without extra oxygen, can improve the quality of abdominal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) images in healthy adults, ages 18-75.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Researchers will compare breath-holding with and without oxygen to see if using oxygen improves image quality during MRI scans.
Participants will:
This is a within-subject, randomized crossover interventional study conducted at UCSF China Basin Imaging Center using a 3 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (3T MRI scanner). The study aims to optimize abdominal MRI protocols by evaluating the impact of breath-holding techniques, with and without oxygen supplementation, on motion artifacts and overall image quality.
Each participant will undergo non-contrast abdominal MRI scans using two breath-hold conditions: (1) Functional Residual Capacity (FRC)/end-expiration without oxygen and (2) FRC/end-expiration with preoxygenation. The order of these conditions will be randomized to control for potential order effects, and each participant will serve as their own control to reduce inter-individual variability.
T2-weighted and Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) sequences will be acquired during each breath-hold trial. MRI-compatible pulse oximetry will be used to monitor oxygen saturation and pulse rate throughout scanning. A radiology research nurse will be present if additional monitoring is needed based on the participant's pre-screening or intra-scan findings. Participants will receive training on breath-hold procedures prior to imaging to improve consistency and comfort during scanning.
Two board-certified radiologists, blinded to the breath-hold condition, will independently assess each image set for motion artifacts and overall image quality using a standardized 5-point grading system. The grading will range from very poor (1) to very good (5) based on sharpness, visibility of anatomical details, and presence of blurring or signal loss.
Inter-rater reliability will be evaluated using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Statistical analyses will include repeated measures ANOVA to compare image quality scores across breath-holding conditions. Descriptive analyses will assess breath-hold durations and participant characteristics (e.g., age, gender) in relation to image quality and safety outcomes, including oxygen saturation and self-reported comfort.
This study involves minimal risk, does not utilize contrast agents, and is intended to support the development of motion-reduced, efficient liver MRI protocols, particularly for living liver donor evaluation. Data collected during the study will not be used for clinical decision-making.
43 studies on the registry are indexed under Hyperventilation; 6 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 10 is below the median of 40 across 31 interventional studies indexed under Hyperventilation.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
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.
Other: Breath-hold conditions
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.
Other: Breath-hold conditions
Functional Residual Capacity/End-Expiration (breath-hold technique) with/without oxygen to optimize MRI image quality.
Liver MRI Image Quality (Motion Artifacts)
Image quality of liver MRI scans will be assessed by quantifying the degree of respiratory motion artifacts under two breath-holding conditions: Functional Residual Capacity (FRC) alone and FRC with oxygen supplementation. Reduced artifacts indicate improved image clarity and feasibility of the technique. Unit of Measure: Motion artifact score (ordinal scale, e.g., 1-5).
Time frame: During the single MRI session (approximately 1 hour)
Breath-Holding Duration
The duration (in seconds) that participants can comfortably sustain a breath-hold under each condition (FRC alone and FRC with oxygen supplementation). Unit of Measure: Seconds.
Time frame: During the MRI session (approximately 1 hour)
Oxygen Saturation During Breath-Holding
Peripheral oxygen saturation will be monitored during each breath-hold condition to assess physiologic tolerance and safety. Unit of Measure: Percent oxygen saturation (%).
Time frame: During the MRI session (approximately 1 hour)
Adverse Events and Participant-Reported Discomfort
Number and type of adverse events, as well as participant-reported discomfort, occurring during or immediately after each breath-hold condition. Unit of Measure: Number of events.
Time frame: During and immediately after the MRI session (up to 1 hour)
Plan to share: No
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