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01-09-2003 | Neuro

Magnetic resonance imaging protocols for examination of the neurocranium at 3 T

Authors: W. Schwindt, H. Kugel, R. Bachmann, S. Kloska, T. Allkemper, D. Maintz, B. Pfleiderer, B. Tombach, W. Heindel

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 9/2003

Abstract

The increasing availability of high-field (3 T) MR scanners requires adapting and optimizing clinical imaging protocols to exploit the theoretically higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the higher field strength. Our aim was to establish reliable and stable protocols meeting the clinical demands for imaging the neurocranium at 3 T. Two hundred patients with a broad range of indications received an examination of the neurocranium with an appropriate assortment of imaging techniques at 3 T. Several imaging parameters were optimized. Keeping scan times comparable to those at 1.5 T we increased spatial resolution. Contrast-enhanced and non-enhanced T1-weighted imaging was best applying gradient-echo and inversion recovery (rather than spin-echo) techniques, respectively. For fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging a TE of 120 ms yielded optimum contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). High-resolution isotropic 3D data sets were acquired within reasonable scan times. Some artifacts were pronounced, but generally imaging profited from the higher SNR. We present a set of optimized examination protocols for neuroimaging at 3 T, which proved to be reliable in a clinical routine setting.

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Title: Magnetic resonance imaging protocols for examination of the neurocranium at 3 T
Authors: W. Schwindt
H. Kugel
R. Bachmann
S. Kloska
T. Allkemper
D. Maintz
B. Pfleiderer
B. Tombach
W. Heindel
Publication date: 01-09-2003
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Radiology / Issue 9/2003
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-003-1984-7

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Magnetic resonance imaging protocols for examination of the neurocranium at 3 T

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