Assessment of scanner performance and normalization of estimated relaxation rate values.
Magn Reson Imaging
; 19(1): 123-8, 2001 Jan.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11295354
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to develop and test a method for the assessment of Magnetic Resonance (MR) scanner performance suitable for routine brain MR studies and for normalization of calculated relaxation times. We hypothesized that regular monitoring of machine performance changes could provide a helpful normalization tool for calculating tissue MR parameters, thus contributing to support their use for longitudinal and comparative studies of both normal and diseased tissues. The method is based on the acquisition of phantom images during routine brain studies with standard spin-echo sequences. MR phantom and brain tissue parameters were used to assess the influence of machine related changes on relaxation parameter estimates. Experimental results showed that scanner performance may affect relaxation rate estimates. Phantom and in vivo results indicate that the correction method yields a reduction in variability of estimated phantom R1 values up to 29% and of R1 for different brain structures up to 17%. These findings support the validity of using brain coil phantoms for routine system monitoring and correction of tissue relaxation rates.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Encéfalo
/
Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética
/
Imagem Ecoplanar
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Magn Reson Imaging
Ano de publicação:
2001
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Itália