6: Parameters and Options Flashcards
Signal to Noise Ratio SNR:
the ratio between the peak frequency signal generated of the transmit coil to the amount of noise from the patient.
signal from coil: noise from patient
Signal to Noise Ratio SNR is reliant upon….
Coil placement in relation to the body part being examined
Poor coil placement will result in…..
an increase in noise, which is also termed “Grainy”
Contrast Resolution
the ability to differentiate between intensities of adjacent tissue on an MR image
How can contrast be adjusted?
TR and TE values
Contrast between tissues occur due to…..
the different relaxation times of each type of tissue
SNR and Contrast (direct or indirect) relationship
Direct: +SNR = +Contrast
Spatial Resolution
the degree of sharpness of an image
What controls Spatial Resolution
Size of pixels or voxels, matrix size
How to determine Voxel size?
FOV / Matrix X Slice thickness
Matrix and Resolution relationship (direct or indicrect)
Direct: +Matrix = +Resolution
Acquisition time:
the length of scan time for a particular sequence or total exam time
What affects scan time? (5)
TR
NEX/NSA (# of signal averages)
Phase encoding steps (#)
ETL
Slice thickness (in 3D imaging)
*Adjusting these values will result directly on acquisition time.
Formula to calculate 2D Scan time
TR x NEX x Phase Encodes
———————————————– / 60
ETL
* TR convert to seconds
Formula to calculate 3D scan time
TR x NEX x Phase Encodes x # of slices
———————————————– / 60
ETL
- TR convert to seconds
When calculating scan time, if there is no FTL….
divide by 60
What would the scan time be in a 2D FSE sequence utilizing TR = 600 ms, an effective TE = 14 ms, 2 signal averages, and a matrix of 512 x 256?
TR x NEX x Phase / ETL / 60
- Convert to Seconds ! *
.6 (s) x 2 (NEX) x 256 (Phase)
.6 x 2 x 256 = 307.2
307.2 / 60 = 5.12
5 mins
.12 x 60 = 7.2 seconds
Answer = 5 mins 7 seconds
What would the scan time be in a 2D FSE sequence utilizing TR = 3000 ms, 2 signal averages, 384 phase encoding lines of matrix with and echo train of 16?
2 mins 24 seconds
What would the scan time be in a Brain 3D FSE sequence utilizing TR = 3000ms, 2 signal averages, 192 phase encoding lines of matrix with an increase in echo train to 24 with 10 slices?
8 minutes
Repetition time (TR)? and how is it measured?
the time from the initial RF pulse to the initial RF pulse of the next pulse. milliseconds
TR value is (directly or indirectly) proportional to the amount of longitudinal relaxation allowed (63%)
directly
+TR = +long relaxation time = +T1 information = increase overall fat signal
Echo Time (TE)? how is it measured?
the time from the initial RF pulse to the peak resultant echo of the same pulse, measured in milliseconds
1/2 TE would be considered the time from the initial 90 degree pulse to refocusing 180 degree pulse
TE value is (directly or indirectly) proportional to the amount of transverse relaxation allowed (37%)
directly
+TE = -SNR = - T2 contrast = increase in chance of Susceptibility artifact
An increase in TE would have (decrease or increase) in SNR
decrease
TR and TE and used to control…
image contrast, “weighted” images
What is needed to control contrast in Inversion Recovery images?
TI (inversion time) TR (repetition time) and TE (echo time)
T1 Weighted images require:
TR
TE
ETL
Ideal for imaging…
- Short TR and Short TE
- TR: 400 - 700 ms
- TE: 10 - 14 ms
- ETL: 4-6
Ideal for Mass or Contrast imaging (pre and post)
What weighted image is best for Mass or Contrast imaging?
T1 Weighted
T2 Weighted images require
TR:
TE:
ETL:
Ideal for imaging…
- Long TR and Long TE
- TR: 4000 - 6800 ms
- TE: 105 - 115 ms
- ETL: 10 - 16
Ideal for Brain and Spine imaging
What weighted image is best for Brain and Spine imaging?
T2 Weighted
Proton Density Weighted images require
TR
TE
ETL
Ideal for imaging…
- Long TR and Short TE
- TR: 4000 - 6800 ms
- TE: 10 - 14 ms
- ETL: 10 - 16
Ideal for Cartilage imaging
What weighted images is best for Cartilage imaging?
Proton Density Weighted
Inversion Time (TI)
the time from the initial 180 degree FR pulse to the 90 degree pulse in an inversion recovery pulse sequence
Relation between TI, Fat Suppression, and T1 contrast:
+ TI = + Fat suppression = - T1 contrast
Field of View (FOV)? how is it measured?
the numerical value area of interest being scanned in the slice direction, measured in cm
FOV is constructed by interchangeable, adjustable columns and rows. These columns and rows together are considered the…
Frequency and phase directions of the imaging matrix.
Increasing FOV by a multiple of 2 will result in ______ value of signal to noise (SNR)
quadrupled
Relationship between FOV, SNR, and Resolution
+ FOV = + SNR = - Resolution
Slice Thickness? how is it measured?
the thickness of the slice in the slice direction, measured in millimeters
A thicker slice will contain (less or more) protons compared to a thinner slice, thus allowing a (higher or lower) signal to noise ratio (SNR)
more protons, higher SNR
Relationship between slice thickness, SNR, and spatial resolution:
+ Slice thickness = + SNR = - Spatial resolution
Gap
also termed “skip”, an adjustable spacing between consecutive slices in the slice direction
- Can be manually entered for each sequence
Relationship between skip, coverage, SAR, risk of missing pathology
+ Skip = + Coverage = - SAR = + Risk of missing pathology
Crosstalk
an artifact of overlapping slice, creates void on intersecting
Matrix
an adjustable grid of columns and rows within a FOV that directly relates to image sharpness or resolution on an MRI image
The value of each matrix is reliant upon…
how many pixels/voxels are in each column and row
Matrix is (directly or indirectly) related to pixel size
directly
Fine (higher) matrices have (larger or smaller) pixel size
smaller
Coarse (lower) matrices have (larger or smaller) pixel size
larger
Relationship between Matrix, SNR, Pixel size, and Resolution:
+ Matrix (Fine) = - SNR = - Pixel size = + Resolution
Flip angle? how is it measured?
how far the net magnetization has been flipped from the longitudinal transverse plane, measured in degrees
Ernst Angle
the most optimal flip angle per TR and results in the best SNR