MRI Flashcards
What is the Lamor Equation and what does it tell us?
Precession frequency = gyromagnetic ratio x field strength (in Tesla)
Describes the precession frequency of a nuclear magnetic moment and resonant frequency of a nucleus, and relates these aspects to the magnetic field strength.
Basically says the precession frequency gets higher as the field strength increases.
What does an RF pulse do?
- Decreases the longitudinal magnetization
2. Causes the protons to synch up and precess in-phase (which establishes a transverse magnetization).
When can you measure signal in MRI?
When it is NOT in the longitudinal direction.
What is T1?
After you knock the protons down with an RF pulse, they will grow back up to normal size (magnitude will re-orient in the direction of Bo). The time it takes for this to happen is T1 - “longitudinal relaxation”.
Plot of time vs longitudinal magnetization creates the T1 curve - returns to 100% over time. T1 is the time at which longitudinal magnetization is 63% of its final value. Greater field strength = longer T1, b/c net magnetization is greater in a larger field
Sometimes called “spin-lattice relaxation” b/c energy from the RF pulse is handed over to the surrounding lattice.
The “1” looks like a thermometer - T1 relaxation involves the exchange of thermal energy.
Short T1 = bright.
Stronger magnet makes T1 longer - more energy in stronger field - takes longer to hand over to lattice
What is another name for T1?
Sometimes called “spin-lattice relaxation” b/c energy from the RF pulse is handed over to the surrounding lattice.
The “1” looks like a thermometer - T1 relaxation involves the exchange of thermal energy.
What is the definition of T1?
Time at which longitudinal magnetization is 63% of its final value.
Each tissue has different T1 and greater the field strength the longer the T1 (b/c net magnetization is greater in a larger field).
Short T1 = bright.
Is T1 different in a stronger magnet?
Stronger magnet makes T1 longer.
Protons in stronger field have more energy (precess faster), takes longer to hand that over to the lattice.
What is T2?
RF pulse causes the protons to synch up and precess in phase (establishes the transverse magnetization) - will slowly fall out of synch - T2 transverse relaxation.
Time at which the signal has decayed to 37% of its original value of transverse magnetization (63% of its decayed.
Plotting the time vs transverse magnetization creates the T2 curve - downward ski slope - T2 is shorter than T1 - less time to go down a hill than up it.
Also called “spin-spin relaxation”
What is the definition of T2?
Time at which the signal has decayed to 37% of its original value of transverse magnetization - 63% has decayed.
What is the relationship of time of T1 vs T2?
T2 is shorter - faster to go downhill than up it.
What causes protons to lose their transverse sync (T2 relaxation)?
- Inhomogeneities in the external field.
- Inhomogeneities in the local magnetic field - w/in the actual tissues and tissue spin interactions.
Pure things take longer to decay their transverse magnetization and are therefore bright (the opposite is true of impure liquids).
Difference between the T2 of pure vs impure liquids?
Pure things (water) take longer to decay their transverse magnetization - therefore bright (opposite of impure liquids).
What is T2*?
The signal of T2 decays faster than predicted based on tissue spin interactions alone. Math assumes the main external field is absolutely homogeneous, it’s not.
Heterogeneous field creates additional interaction which further speeds decay.
T2* decay is always faster than T2.
What is TR?
Time to repetition - time between initiation of two successive RF pulses.
What is FID?
Free Induction Decay
Give an RF pulse and the protons sync up - start getting a signal. Signal becomes less and less as times goes on - decay via T2* (random + fixed causes).
Will be created with by an RF pulse with any flip angle (90 degree as in spin echo or less than 90 degree as in gradient echo).
Won’t get with an 180 b/c it only inverts the longitudinal magnetization and doesn’t generate a transfer component.
How do you fix T2*?
Wait until half way through T2 decay - hit it with a 180 degree pulse and spin it all the way around - restart the process. This will:
- clear out those inhomogeneities in the field making T2* turn into T2
- Will create an “echo”
What is an “echo”?
The signal tails off, hit it with a 180 pulse and it will come back to refocus = “the echo” - the signal peaks in uniformity at the tip of the echo.
Great time to collect a nice “clean” signal
When do you deliver the 180 pulse?
The 180 is given at the 1/2 T.E. - Time to echo.
What is TE?
Time to echo
Give the 180 pulse at 1/2 TE.
Short TR and Short TE =
T1
Maximize the longitudinal contrast and minimize the transverse contrast - the difference between the T1 and T2 curves
More gap between the lines in the T1 curve early- more closely together early in the T2 curve
Long TR and Long TE =
T2
Maximize the transverse contrast (T2) and minimize the longitudinal contrast (T1).
Longer the TE = greater the T2 effects
Longer TE =
Greater the T2 effects
Increasing ___ increases the T2 effects?
TE
What is a Short TR in Spin Echo?
250-700 ms
What is a Long TR in Spin Echo?
> 2000 ms
What is a Short TE in Spin Echo?
10-25 ms
What is a Long TE in Spin Echo?
> 60 ms
What is a short TR in Gradient Echo?
<50 ms
What is a Long TR in Gradient Echo?
> 100 ms
What is a Short TE in Gradient Echo?
1-5 ms
What is a Long TE in Gradient Echo?
> 10 ms
What is Proton Density?
What you have left when you subtract the bias of T1 or T2 weighting.
With all things equal, the only thing you are measuring is how many protons are present in a thing vs another thing.
Choose a long TR to minimize the longitudinal difference and choose a short TE to minimize transverse differences.
Short TR + Short TE =
T1
Long TR + Long TE =
T2
Long TR + Short TE =
Proton Density
Short TR + Long TE =
Bullshit
TR and TE of T1?
Short TR and Short TE
TR and TE of T2?
Long TR and Long TE
TR and TE of PD?
Long TR and Short TE
What is Fourier Transform?
Mathematical technique for converting data from the time domain to the data in the frequency domain.
What is K-space?
K-space is a Fourier plane (like an x-y axis coordinate system) in which MR signal is stored.
Turning K-space into an image requires an inverse 2D Fourier Transform.
How is K-space turned into an image?
Inverse 2D Fourier transform.
What are the parts of K-space made up of?
Center = information about gross form and tissue contrast
Periphery = made up of information about spatial resolution.
What is the center of K-space made up of?
Information about gross form and tissue contrast
What is the periphery of K-space made up of?
Information about spatial resolution.
How is localization of signal done?
3 steps:
1. Select the desired slice - slice selection gradient - perpendicular - determines the view (axial, coronal, sagittal…..)
- Encode spatial information along the rows - vertical direction (phase encoding) - gradient applied causing protons in the same row perpendicular to the gradient to have same phase - same frequency.
- Encode spatial information along the columns - perpendicular to phase encoding - modification of Lamor freqs over the duration of its application - end result is column of protons which have identical frequencies- applied at same times are readout.
What are localizing gradients?
Can be turned on and off (vs main magnet is always on).
Have identical properties, just applied at different times and different directions.
Have 3 gradients in 3 planes, can localize anything in the body.
How do you select the desired slice?
Use a slice selection gradient to select area of interest. Perpendicular to the desired slice plane - determines the view (axial, coronal, sagittal, even oblique).
Apply selective pulse on top of this gradient at same frequency as the protons in the slice plane you want to sample - only the protons in this plane will be affected.
What is a selective pulse?
Applied on top of the slice selection gradient - at the same frequency as the protons in the slice plane you want to sample - only the protons in this plane will be affected.
90 pulse.
What is Phase Encoding?
Encodes information in the vertical direction - second step.
Gradient is applied causing protons in the same row perpendicular to the gradient to have the same phase.
All protons at this point will have the same frequency.
Much longer than frequency encoding - done on the thinner portion - contributes to the duration of the study.
In which direction is the phase encoding done?
Thinnest portion of the body part imaged - contributes to duration of study.
What contributes to the duration of a study?
TR = repetition time NPy = number of phase encoding steps Nex = number of excitations
What is frequency encoding?
Encodes spatial information in the horizontal direction.
Gradient applied perpendicular to the phase-encoding direction, which results in modification of Lamor frequencies over the direction of its application.
End result is a column of protons which have identical frequencies.
Applied at the same time as the readout.
How does the difference between slice selection gradient change slice thickeness?
Steep “large” SS gradient slopes = large difference in precessional frequency = thinner slices
Shallow “small” SS gradient slopes = small difference in precessional frequency = thicker slice.
How does the RF transmit pulse applied after the slice selection gradient affect slice thickness?
Deployed at a range of frequencies (or bandwidth) covering the desired area - Transmit bandwidth.
Thicker bandwidth will result in a thicker slice.
Thinner bandwidth will result in a thinner slice.
What slice selection gradient and transmit bandwidth are needed for a thinner slice?
Steep (large) slice selection gradient and thin transmit bandwidth
What slice selection gradient and transmit bandwidth are needed for a thicker slice?
Shallow (small) slice selection gradient and thick transmit bandwidth
What factors into table time?
Applies to 2D imaging:
TR x Phase Matrix x NEX
TR = time between each RF pulse
Phase Matrix = Data the system collects from each phase encoding step
NEX = number of times each set of phase encoding steps is required - “number of excitations”
If 3D imaging:
TR x Phase Matrix x NEX x #Slices
In fast spin echo- the acquisition time is approximately proportional to 1/Echo Train Length
In what situations does the Table Time formula not hold up?
3D imaging
Fast Spin Echo
For 2D:
Time = TR x Phase Matrix x NEX
Fast spin echo: acquisition time is approximately proportional to 1/Echo Train Length
3D imaging:
Time = TR x Phase Matrix x NEX x #slices
How is 3D imaging different from 2D?
In 3D you are acquiring information in blocks instead of slices - improves spatial resolution (can shrink slice thickness) and there is no gap.
Improves SNR plus ability to manipulate the angle of obliquity.
Increased time compared to 2D
Time = TR x Phase Matrix x NEX x #Slices
What factors affect spatial resolution?
Spatial resolution is governed by the size of a voxel. Voxel size is determined by matrix, FOV, and slice thickness.
FOV: smaller is better, but too small will get aliasing or wrap around from signal outside the FOV.
Matrix Size: Image width and height (in pixels) - larger the matrix, the smaller the pixels (pixel = FOV/Matrix).
Gradient: Gradient with higher amplitude (more intense) or one applied for a longer period of time = better spatial resolution.
Slice Thickness = thinner the slice, the better the spatial resolution
What results in better spatial resolution?
Small Voxel
Small FOV
Large Matrix
Thinner Slices
Steep (large) slice selection gradient and thin transmit bandwidth
What factors affect SNR?
Voxel size: bigger voxel size improves SNR (opposite of spatial resolution). Thicker slices (increased transmit RF pulse, decreased slice selection gradient). Large FOV = more SNR Smaller matrix = more SNR
Field Strength = stronger field = more signal
RF coils: smaller surface coils improve your signal (increased SNR) compared to a coil within the scanner
Number of excitations per slice (number of averages): more excitation you perform the more signal you get (increased SNR), but increased imaging time.
Receiver bandwidth: fat bandwidth = rapid sampling, narrow bandwidth = slow sampling. Noise is constant, fatter band will pick up more noise. Fat bandwidth = decrease SNR, narrow bandwidth = increased SNR.
Maximize TR (long) and minimize TE (short) - peaks the signal.
What makes better SNR of signal?
Stronger magnet Long TR Big FOV Large slices - shallow (small) slice selection gradient, and thick transmit bandwidth More NEX Short TE Small Matrix Small Receiver Bandwidth Appropriate Coil Size
How does FOV affect spatial resolution?
Smaller is better, but too small will get aliasing or wrap around from signal outside the FOV.
How does Matrix Size affect spatial resolution?
Larger is better
Image width and height (in pixels) - larger the matrix, the smaller the pixels (pixel = FOV/Matrix).
How does gradient affect spatial resolution?
Gradient with higher amplitude (more intense) or one applied for a longer period of time = better spatial resolution.
How does slice thickness affect spatial resolution?
Thinner the slice, the better the spatial resolution
How does voxel size affect signal to noise?
Anything that makes voxel size bigger improves SNR (opposite of spatial resolution)
Thicker slices (increased transmit RF pulse, decreased slice selection gradient). Large FOV = more SNR Smaller matrix = more SNR
How does field strength affect SNR?
stronger field = more signal
How do RF coils affect SNR?
smaller surface coils improve your signal (increased SNR) compared to a coil within the scanner
How does number of excitations per slice affect SNR?
more excitation you perform the more signal you get (increased SNR), but increased imaging time.
How does receiver bandwidth affect SNR?
fat bandwidth = rapid sampling, narrow bandwidth = slow sampling. Noise is constant, fatter band will pick up more noise. Fat bandwidth = decrease SNR, narrow bandwidth = increased SNR.
How do TR and TE affect SNR?
Maximizing TR (long) and minimizing TE (short)- peaks your signal.
What does a fat receiver bandwidth do to SNR?
Decrease SNR
What does a fat transmit bandwidth do to SNR?
Larger slice = increased SNR
What does a narrow receiver bandwidth do to SNR?
Increased SNR
What does a narrow transmit bandwidth do the SNR?
Thinner slice = decreased SNR
What kind of signal to noise ratio does PD have?
Excellent SNR.
Long TR
Short TE
What is the trade off of using more field strength?
Better SNR, but more field strength increases tissue T1 times (and therefore acquisition time via TR).
What is the trade off of increasing the NEX?
Improved signal, but increasing NEX from two to four doubles the scan time, but increases the signal the signal by only the square root of two.
What is the trade off of shortening TE?
Will improve SNR and doesn’t mess with table time, but increasing the TE or shortening TR decreases the number of slices that can be obtained with one pulse sequence.
What is the trade off of using larger receiver bandwidth?
Decrease SNR but also decreases mismatch artifacts like chemical shift or magnetic susceptibility.
Thinner bandwidths may increase SNR, but they also increase mismatch artifacts like chemical shift or magnetic susceptibility.
What do thicker slices do to SNR, spatial resolution, and duration of exam?
Increased SNR
Decreased spatial resolution
No effect on duration of exam
What do larger FOV do to SNR, spatial resolution, and duration of exam?
Increased SNR
Decreased spatial resolution
No effect on duration of exam
What do larger matrix do to SNR, spatial resolution, and duration of exam?
Decreased SNR
Increased spatial resolution
Increased Duration of exam
What do greater field strength do to SNR, spatial resolution, and duration of exam?
Increased SNR
No effect on spatial resolution
No effect on duration of exam
What do greater receiver bandwidth do to SNR, spatial resolution, and duration of exam?
Decreased SNR
No effect on spatial resolution
Decreased duration of exam
What do greater transmit bandwidth do to SNR, spatial resolution, and duration of exam?
Increased SNR
Decreased spatial resolution
No effect on duration of exam
What do more excitations per slice do to SNR, spatial resolution, and duration of exam?
Increased SNR
No effect on spatial resolution
Increased duration of exam
What do utilizing partial K space sampling do to SNR, spatial resolution, and duration of exam?
Decreased SNR
No effect on spatial resolution
Decreased duration of exam