‭CHAPTER 4‬

‭MR Imaging Parameters and Options‬

‭MR Parameters‬

I‭n MR imaging, various parameters influence exam time, signal-to-noise‬

‭ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). Optimizing these‬
‭parameters enhances image quality and reduces artifacts. MR‬
‭parameters can be classified into three groups: MR imaging‬
‭parameters, MR pulse sequence parameters, and MR imaging options.‬
‭Understanding their mechanisms is essential for making informed‬
‭decisions and achieving optimal imaging results.‬

‭MR Imaging Parameters‬

‭ his passage thoroughly explains the parameters adjusted during MRI‬
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‭scanning and their effects on image quality, resolution, SNR‬
‭(Signal-to-Noise Ratio), and scan time. Here's a breakdown of the key‬
‭topics covered:‬

‭Field of View (FOV)‬

‭‬
● ‭ efines the area covered in the MR image, given in cm or mm.‬
D
‭●‬ ‭Square FOV‬‭: Single value, e.g., 24 cm.‬
‭●‬ ‭Rectangular FOV‬‭: Two values, e.g., 24 × 20 cm.‬
‭●‬ ‭Larger FOV increases SNR but reduces resolution, while smaller‬
‭FOV provides more detail (better resolution) but reduces SNR.‬
 ‭●‬ O
‭ ptimal FOV selection balances detail and noise and should align‬
‭with the region of interest.‬

‭ ample‬‭images‬‭acquired‬‭with‬‭30‬‭cm‬‭(‬‭a‬‭)‬‭and‬‭15‬‭cm‬‭(‬‭b‬‭)‬‭FOV‬‭are‬‭shown‬‭on‬‭the‬
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‭same volunteer‬

‭Imaging Matrix‬
‭●‬ T ‭ he matrix size (e.g., 512 × 512) determines the number of‬
‭sample points in the image.‬
‭●‬ ‭Higher matrix values improve resolution but reduce SNR and‬
‭increase scan time.‬
‭●‬ ‭A rectangular matrix is often used to save time, typically with a‬
‭lower value in the phase direction.‬
 ‭Sample images acquired with 128 × 128 matrix ( a ) and 320 × 320‬
‭matrix‬

‭( b ) FOV are shown on the same volunteer‬

‭Resolution‬
‭‬R
● ‭ esolution is calculated as‬‭FOV ÷ Matrix‬‭(in mm).‬
‭●‬ ‭Higher resolution can be achieved by:‬
‭○‬ ‭Decreasing FOV.‬
‭○‬ ‭Increasing the imaging matrix.‬
‭●‬ ‭High resolution reduces SNR, whereas low resolution often‬
‭improves perceived image quality due to increased SNR.‬

‭Slice Thickness (TH)‬

‭‬D
● ‭ efines the depth of each imaged slice in mm.‬
‭●‬ ‭Thicker slices improve SNR but reduce resolution.‬
‭●‬ ‭Typical ranges:‬
 ‭‬2
○ ‭ D imaging‬‭: 4–8 mm.‬
‭○‬ ‭3D imaging‬‭: 0.5–5 mm.‬

‭ ample images acquired with slice thickness of 3 mm ( a ) and 15 mm ( b ) are‬

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‭shown on the same volunteer‬

‭Slice Spacing or Gap‬

‭●‬ S ‭ pacing between adjacent slices, expressed in mm or as a‬
‭percentage of TH.‬
‭●‬ ‭Reduces cross-talk artifacts caused by excitation of neighboring‬
‭slices.‬
‭●‬ ‭Interleaved acquisition methods can reduce or eliminate slice‬
‭spacing.‬

‭Number of Averages (NSA/NEX)‬

‭●‬ I‭ndicates how many times the signal is averaged during‬
‭acquisition.‬
‭●‬ ‭Increases SNR (proportional to the square root of NEX) but‬
‭lengthens scan time.‬
‭●‬ ‭Higher NEX can smooth out motion or flow artifacts.‬
‭ ample images acquired with a NEX of 1 ( a ) and NEX of 4 ( b ) are shown on‬
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‭the same volunteer‬

‭Receiver Bandwidth (RBW)‬

‭●‬ D ‭ etermines the range of frequencies acquired, expressed in kHz‬
‭or Hz.‬
‭●‬ ‭Wider RBW:‬
‭○‬ ‭Reduces SNR.‬
‭○‬ ‭Improves sharpness and reduces ringing and chemical shift‬
‭artifacts.‬
‭○‬ ‭May shorten scan time.‬
‭●‬ ‭Narrow RBW increases SNR but risks introducing more artifacts.‬
‭●‬ ‭Total RBW = Frequency matrix / Ts (in seconds)‬
‭ ample images acquired with a receiver bandwidth of 6.92 kHz ( a ) and 62.5‬
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‭kHz ( b ) are shown on the same volunteer‬

‭Frequency and Phase Direction‬

‭●‬ T ‭ he choice of frequency and phase directions depends on‬
‭anatomical orientation and artifact reduction.‬
‭●‬ ‭Frequency direction is usually aligned with the longer anatomical‬
‭dimension to avoid wrapping artifacts.‬
‭●‬ ‭Proper selection minimizes motion artifacts and optimizes scan‬
‭efficiency.‬

‭Summary of Parameter Trade-offs‬

‭●‬ E
‭ ach parameter influences SNR, resolution, and scan time. For‬
‭example:‬
‭○‬ ‭Increasing slice thickness improves SNR but reduces‬
‭resolution.‬
‭○‬ ‭Increasing matrix size improves resolution but decreases‬
‭SNR and may increase scan time.‬
‭Takeaway‬
‭ R imaging parameters are interdependent, requiring careful‬
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‭adjustment to achieve the desired balance between image quality,‬
‭resolution, and scan efficiency. Understanding their effects enables‬
‭informed decisions for optimal imaging outcomes.‬

‭MR Pulse Sequence Parameters‬

‭ his excerpt provides a detailed explanation of various‬‭MR pulse‬

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‭sequence parameters‬‭critical to achieving desired‬‭image quality and‬
‭contrast in MRI. Below is a summary and key takeaways for each‬
‭parameter:‬

‭Repetition Time (TR)‬

‭●‬ D ‭ efinition:‬‭Time interval between two consecutive‬‭RF excitation‬
‭pulses.‬
‭●‬ ‭Significance:‬‭In spin echo sequences, TR and TE determine‬
‭image contrast (T1, T2, or PD weighting).‬
‭●‬ ‭Special Cases:‬‭In single-shot techniques (e.g., SSFSE,‬‭HASTE,‬
‭EPI), TR is effectively very long, leading to T2/T2* weighting.‬
‭Echo Time (TE)‬
‭●‬ D ‭ efinition:‬‭Time between the center of the initial‬‭excitation RF‬
‭pulse and the peak of the echo signal.‬
‭●‬ ‭Role in Contrast:‬
‭○‬ ‭Higher TE values enhance T2 weighting but reduce SNR and‬
‭image sharpness.‬
‭○‬ ‭Optimal TE varies depending on tissue contrast‬
‭requirements (e.g., GM vs. WM in brain imaging).‬

‭ ample images acquired with a TE time of 80 ms ( a ) and 175 ms ( b ) are‬

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‭shown on the same volunteer‬

‭●‬ E
‭ ffective TE:‬‭In multiecho sequences like FSE or HASTE,‬‭TE‬
‭may differ slightly due to system adjustments.‬

‭Inversion Time (TI)‬

‭●‬ D ‭ efinition:‬‭Time interval between the inversion (180°)‬‭pulse and‬

‭the echo formation.‬
‭●‬ ‭Applications:‬
 ‭○‬ U ‭ sed in sequences like STIR, FLAIR, and IR for contrast‬
‭manipulation.‬
‭○‬ ‭Specific TI values suppress signals from certain tissues‬
‭(e.g., fat, CSF).‬
‭○‬ ‭Example: A short TI (70 ms) in STIR DWI can enhance‬
‭image quality.‬

‭ ample images acquired with a TI time of 70 ms ( a ), 145 ms ( b ), and 270 ms (‬

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‭c ) are shown on the same volunteer‬

‭Echo Train Length (ETL) or Turbo Factor‬

‭●‬ D ‭ efinition:‬‭Number of refocusing RF pulses after the‬‭initial‬
‭excitation.‬
‭●‬ ‭Effects:‬
‭○‬ ‭Shorter acquisition time for T2 and PD images.‬
‭○‬ ‭Tradeoffs include increased motion artifacts and image‬
‭blurring.‬
‭○‬ ‭Typical ETL ranges:‬
‭■‬ ‭T1 weighting: 2–3‬
‭■‬ ‭PD weighting: 6–8‬
‭■‬ ‭T2 weighting: 12–30‬
‭Sample images acquired with an ETL of 8 ( a ) and‬‭24 ( b ) are shown on the‬
‭same volunteer‬‭.‬

‭Echo Spacing‬
‭●‬ D ‭ efinition:‬‭Time between consecutive refocusing pulses‬‭in FSE‬
‭sequences.‬
‭●‬ ‭Adjustments:‬‭Can be reduced by lowering resolution‬‭or‬
‭increasing the receiver bandwidth (RBW).‬

‭Flip Angle (FA)‬

‭‬D
● ‭ efinition:‬‭Angle of magnetization tilt from the Z-axis.‬
‭●‬ ‭Usage:‬
‭○‬ ‭Standard 90° in spin echo sequences.‬
‭○‬ ‭Variable (5°–90°) in gradient echo sequences to modify‬
‭image contrast and accelerate acquisition.‬

‭Tradeoffs and Optimization‬‭:‬

‭MRI parameters often involve balancing:‬
 ‭‬
● ‭ ignal-to-noise ratio (SNR)‬
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‭●‬ ‭Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR)‬
‭●‬ ‭Acquisition time‬
‭●‬ ‭Image sharpness and blurring‬

‭ hese parameters, carefully adjusted, allow clinicians and technologists‬

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‭to tailor imaging protocols for specific diagnostic needs.‬

‭MR Imaging Options‬

‭ his comprehensive summary explains various MR imaging options and‬
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‭parameters used to enhance image quality, reduce artifacts, and‬
‭improve diagnostic accuracy. Here's a breakdown of key elements:‬

‭1.‬‭Fat Suppression Techniques‬

‭●‬ F ‭ at Saturation (FS)‬‭: Uses a narrow RF pulse targeting‬‭fat‬
‭resonance to dephase fat signals. Effective in most scenarios but‬
‭can fail in large FOV scans, anatomically inhomogeneous areas,‬
‭or near metallic implants.‬
‭●‬ ‭Fat Suppression (STIR)‬‭: Employs an inversion pulse,‬‭offering‬
‭insensitivity to magnetic field inhomogeneity. Useful in MSK and‬
‭whole-body imaging, but can alter contrast and appear noisy.‬
‭●‬ ‭Fat Separation‬‭: Dixon methods and advanced techniques‬‭like‬
‭IDEAL and mDIXON separate fat and water for improved image‬
‭clarity in a single acquisition.‬
‭●‬ ‭Spectral Inversion (SPIR/SPECIAL)‬‭: Combines fat suppression‬
‭and saturation, preserving image contrast and reducing field‬
‭inhomogeneity sensitivity.‬

‭2.‬‭Flow Compensation (FC)‬

 ‭●‬ A
‭ ddresses flow-related artifacts by applying additional gradients‬
‭for steady or accelerated motion. Commonly used in slice or‬
‭frequency directions depending on imaging plane.‬

‭3.‬ ‭Saturation Bands (SAT)‬

‭●‬ T
‭ argeted RF pulses reduce motion and flow artifacts by‬
‭saturating specific regions. Commonly used in axial and sagittal‬
‭imaging for respiratory, cardiac, or body motion artifacts.‬

‭4.‬‭R espiratory and Cardiac Triggering‬

‭●‬ R ‭ espiratory Triggering‬‭: Acquires data during expiration‬‭for‬
‭motion reduction, compatible with long TR sequences.‬
‭●‬ ‭Navigator Triggering‬‭: Tracks diaphragm motion for‬‭precise‬
‭abdominal and cardiac imaging.‬
‭●‬ ‭Cardiac Gating‬‭: Synchronizes acquisition with cardiac‬‭motion for‬
‭applications like perfusion or viability imaging.‬

‭5.‬‭R esolution Interpolation‬

‭●‬ Z ‭ IP 512/1024‬‭: Interpolates in-plane resolution for‬‭higher detail‬
‭perception.‬
‭●‬ ‭Slice Interpolation (ZIP 2/4)‬‭: Enhances slice thickness‬‭in 3D‬
‭imaging for more detailed multiplanar reconstructions.‬

‭6.‬ ‭Magnetization Transfer (MT)‬

‭●‬ I‭ncreases tissue contrast by saturating bound water protons,‬
‭enhancing brain MRA and MS imaging applications.‬

‭7‬‭. Phase Wrap Suppression (NPW)‬

‭●‬ E
‭ liminates aliasing artifacts by doubling the FOV in the phase‬
‭direction, maintaining acquisition time.‬
‭8.‬ ‭C ontrast Monitoring Tools‬
‭●‬ S ‭ martPrep/BolusTrack‬‭: Automates contrast-enhanced‬‭MRA by‬
‭detecting contrast arrival in target vessels.‬
‭●‬ ‭Fluoro Trigger‬‭: Allows manual control over contrast‬‭timing with‬
‭real-time visualization.‬

‭9.‬ ‭Parallel Imaging‬

‭●‬ U
‭ tilizes multi-channel coils to accelerate acquisition, reducing scan‬
‭time with some SNR trade-offs. Proper use is essential to‬
‭minimize unique artifacts associated with this technique.‬

‭ hese parameters and options allow radiographers and radiologists to‬

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‭tailor MR protocols for specific clinical needs while managing potential‬
‭artifacts and optimizing imaging efficiency.‬