Objectives of the Lecture

By the end of the lecture the student should

be able to:.
Know the main considerations of image quality
o Define MRI image Parameters and know its trade-offs.
o Identify Pulse sequences diagram.
o Define flow phenomena and artifacts
Imaging Considerations
Parameters and pulse sequences

The main considerations of image quality are:

1/signal to noise ratio (SNR)

2/contrast to noise ratio (CNR)
3/spatial resolution
4/scan time
1/ Signal to noise ratio (SNR)
defined as the ratio of the amplitude of signal
received by the coil to the amplitude of the
noise
SNR may be increased by using:
(1) spin echo (SE) and fast spin echo (FSE)
pulse sequences
(3) a long repetition time (TR) and a short echo
time (TE)
(4) a flip angle of 90°
(5) a well-tuned and correctly sized coil
(6) a coarse matrix
(7)a large FOV
(8) thick slices
(9) the narrowest receive bandwidth available
(10) as many excitations and signal averages
(NEX/NSA) as possible
Contrast to noise ratio (CNR)
is defined as the difference in the SNR between two
adjacent areas. It is controlled by the same factors that
affect the SNR.
 The CNR between pathology and other structures can be
increased by the following:
1/ Administration of contrast agents.
2/ Utilization of T2 weighted sequences.
3/ Selection of magnetization transfer (MT) sequences.
4/ Suppression of normal tissues via chemical/spectral
presaturation, or sequences that null signal from certain
tissues: short TI inversion recovery (STIR), fluid
alternated inversion recovery (FLAIR).
Spatial resolution
is the ability to distinguish between two
points as separate and distinct. It is
controlled by the voxel size.
Spatial resolution may be increased by
selecting:
1/ thin slices
2/ fine matrices
3/ a small FOV.
Scan time
is the time required to complete the
acquisition of data. The scan time can be
decreased by using:
1/ a short TR
2/a coarse matrix
3/ the lowest NEX/NSA possible.
Pulse Sequences
show different pulse sequences on MRI images
appearance.
 MRI Pulse Sequences

Spin Echo Pulse Sequences (SE)

Conventional spin echo
Fast spin echo
Inversion recovery
STAIR
FLAIR
Conventional spin echo
Usually produce by 90 excitation pulse
followed by one 180 re phasing pulse , used
to produce optimum SNR and CNR
Diagram1. Show Pulse sequence for the spin echo sequence
Advantage:
1- good image quality.
2- very versatile.
3- true T2 weighting sensitive to Pathology.
4- Available on all systems
Fast Spin Echo { FSE }
Usually produce by 90 excitation pulse
followed by several 180 rephasing
pulse.Used to reduce the scan time. This is
achieved by using an echo train that consist
of several 180 rephasing pulse.
Diagram2. Show Pulse sequence for the
fast spin echo sequence
Advantage
1-scan times greatly reduced
2- high resolution matrices and multiple NEX
can be used
3- improve the image quality
4- increase T2 information
Disadvantage
1- fat bright on T2 weighted images
Inversion Recovery (IR)

It start with a 180 degree RF pre- pulse to

invert the NMV 180 degree ,followed by 90
degree RF pulse. The time from the inverting
180- degree to the 90 degree excitation pulse
is the inverting time TI .Inversion time is the
time taken to null the signal from certain
tissues .
Short TI inversion-recovery (STIR)
sequence
In STIR sequences, an inversion-recovery
pulse is used to null the signal from fat (180°
RF Pulse).When NMV of fat passes its null
point , 90° RF pulse is applied.
 STI
FSE
R
Figure3. show Comparison of FSE and STIR sequences
for depiction of bone marrow edema
Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery
(FLAIR)
An IR sequence with a long TR and TE and an
inversion time (TI) that is tailored to null the
signal from CSF.In contrast to real image
reconstruction, negative signals are recorded
as positive signals of the same strength so
that the nulled tissue remains dark and all
other tissues have higher signal intensities.
 FLAI
T2 W
R

small hyper intense cortical lesion on T2W(a)

where they are clear on FLAIR arrow(b)
Show different pulse sequences on MRI images
appearance.
Gradient Echo Pulse Sequence
Conventional gradient echo
Coherent gradient echo
Balanced gradient echo
Incoherent sequences
Ultra-fast sequences
EPI
Conventional gradient echo
In a GRE sequence, an RF pulse is applied
that partly flips the NMV into the transverse
plane (variable flip angle). Less than 90
degree RF pulse is applied
A gradient echo sequence replace the second
180 degree RF pulse associate with spin
echo sequence with a magnetic gradient field
this magnetic gradient field acts to re phase
the protons in order to produce the MR signal
to be processed to give the final image
Pulse sequence for the gradient-echo sequence
 Tissue Contrast
T1-WIs best depict the anatomy,
T1 with contrast material characterize pathological
entities
T2-WI provide the best depiction of disease,
(because most tissues that are involved in a
pathologic process have a higher water content
than is normal, and the fluid causes the
affected areas to appear bright on T2 WIs ) .
PD WI usually depict both the anatomy and Pathology.
The image will depend on

Amount

Minimal hydrogen [air] →

Motion no signal

Non mobile hydrogen [cortical

bone] → no signal
Fast hydrogen [flowing blood] →
no signal
, Non mobile hydrogen
Signal void
 Cortical bone
 Mature fibrous
tissue
 Calcifications
Minimal hydrogen

AIR

& Lung
Sinuses
Each structure [lesion] in
the human body has a
characteristic signal

T1 Flui T2
d

T1 Fat T2
Each structure [lesion] in the
human body has a
characteristic signal

T1 Flui T2
d

T1 Fat T2
Which scan best defines the
abnormality ?
T1 W Images:
Subacute Hemorrhage
Fat-containing structures
Anatomical Details
T2 W Images:
Edema
Demyelination
Infarction
Chronic Hemorrhage
FLAIR Images:
Edema,
Demyelination
Infarction esp. in Periventricular location
MRI Artifacts
 Flow phenomena and artifact
Artifacts Produced from nuclei that move
during the acquisition of data
Flowing nuclei exhibit different contrast
characteristics from their neighboring
stationary nuclei.
Originate primarily from nuclei in blood and
CSF
The motion causes miss mapping of signals
and results in a artifacts known as flow
motion artifacts or phase ghosting.
The causes of flow artifact are known as flow
phenomena
Time of flight phenomenon (TOF)
To produce a signal, a nucleus must receive
an excitation pulse and a re phasing pulse. If
a nucleus receive only an excitation pulse but
not re phased it does not produce a signal. If
a nucleus is re phased but not received an
excitation pulse it does not produce a signal
Stationary nuclei always receive both
excitation pulse and re phasing pulse and
therefore produce a signal.
Flowing nuclei present in the slice for
excitation may exit the slice before re phasing
and therefore not produce signal. This is
called the time of flight phenomenon . This
will result in a signal void from the nuclei, so
the vessel appear dark.
Artifacts
The most common types of artifact seen in
MR images are:
• phase mismapping (motion)
• aliasing (wrap)
• chemical shift
• chemical misregistration
• truncation
• magnetic susceptibility.
THE END