Comparative study of fast MR imaging: quantitative analysis on image quality and efficiency among various time frames and contrast behaviors

• Published in: Magnetic resonance imaging Vol. 20; no. 6; pp. 471 - 478
• Main Authors: Li, Tao, Mirowitz, Scott A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.07.2002; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Echo-Planar Imaging; Images, analysis; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Magnetic resonance, pulse sequences; Magnetic resonance, rapid imaging; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous. Technology; Phantoms; Phantoms, Imaging; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Images, analysis; Phantoms; Magnetic resonance, rapid imaging; Magnetic resonance, pulse sequences; Human; Image analysis; Rapid technique; Imaging; Medical imagery; Exploration; Technique; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 0730-725X; 1873-5894
• DOI: 10.1016/S0730-725X(02)00527-1

The purpose of this study is to quantitatively compare the image quality and efficiency provided by widely available fast MR imaging pulse sequences. A composite phantom with various T1 and T2 values and subjected to periodic motion was imaged at 1.5 T. The fast MRI sequences evaluated included fast spin-echo (FSE), single shot fast spin-echo (SSFSE), echo-planar imaging (EPI), multi-slice gradient recalled (MPGR), fast MPGR (FMPGR), and fast multi-slice spoiled gradient echo (FMPSPGR). T1-weighted (T1WI), T2-weighted (T2WI), proton-density-weighted (PDWI), and T2∗-weighted (T2∗WI) images were evaluated in breath-hold and non-breath-hold time frames. Analysis included measurement of image signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), nonuniformity, ghosting ratio, SNR per unit time and CNR per unit time. Among fast T2WI sequences, FSE with breath-hold time frame resulted in the highest image quality and in superior SNR and CNR efficiency by a factor of 5 or 6 as compared with conventional spin echo sequence. Among fast T1WI sequences, FMPGR and FMPSPGR both with non-breath-hold time frame produced the highest image quality and SNR and CNR efficiency by a factor of greater than 5 as compared with conventional spin echo. Among fast PDWI and T2∗WI sequences, FSE produced the highest SNR and CNR, and was maximally efficient with a factors of greater than 6 as compared with conventional spin echo.