MRI Imaging to Assess Lung Function in Children Aged 5 to 17 with Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis

What this Trial Is About

Protracted bacterial bronchitis PBB causes children to have a wet cough lasting more than four weeks and can lead to other lung diseases affecting quality of life. It is hard to diagnose because usual lung exams and breathing tests often appear normal, so more invasive tests like bronchoscopy and CT scans are needed. These tests involve anesthesia or radiation, so they are not commonly done. This research is exploring a safer lung scan method called MRI using hyperpolarised xenon gas to detect lung blockages and early lung disease in children with PBB, which may improve treatment and reduce antibiotic use. Children participating in this study will undergo an MRI scan where they breathe in xenon gas to help images show if there is phlegm blocking parts of the lungs. This imaging method has been effective in identifying early lung disease in other conditions like cystic fibrosis. The study compares lung function and ventilation defects in children with PBB to data from healthy children. Experienced radiologists will analyze the MRI images for signs like bronchial wall thickening, mucus plugging, and gas trapping. Participants are children aged 5 to 17 years suspected of having PBB and able to follow instructions. During the MRI visit, lung images will be taken, and assessments will be made based on these scans. Researchers will monitor ventilation defects and other lung changes using the MRI scans. This observational study does not involve treatments but focuses on imaging results to better understand lung disease in PBB. The study is sponsored by Sheffield Childrens NHS Foundation Trust and runs until May 2026.

Lung MRI in Paediatric Lung Disease: MRI in PBB