Chuan Shuai Tian, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Bing Zhang PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Fei Chen MS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Bin Zhu, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Haiping Yu, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ming Li, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Danyan Li, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Huiting Wang MS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Weibo Chen MSc, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Queenie Chan PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

We aimed to study how to improve the quality and speed of cervical and lumbar imaging by TX technology compared with single transmission (without TX).

Thirty-seven healthy volunteers (seventeen (5 male and 12 female), aged 21-55yr (mean 38.47±13.02yr) for cervical; twenty (8 male and 12 female), aged 20-64yr (mean 29.25±8.48yr) for lumbar) were scanned at 3.0T scanner (Achieva TX, Best, the Netherlands), acquiring the T2WI and T1WI images of the cervical and lumbar with and without TX.  We compared the parameters, as well as the average signal intensity in different region of interest (ROIs) between the cervical and lumbar MRI with and without TX (Fig.a.b). P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant by Paired t-test.

TR was shortened by 1224ms(26.67%) on T2WI, and 97ms (17.64%) on T1WI in lumbar MRI. Packages reduced by 1.5±1 (37.5%), scanning time is shortened by 97.2±31.15s (44.02%). On T2WI of the cervical, the average signal intensity of ROIs 3/4/9 for vertebrae, ROIs 10/11 for fat were increased, ROIs 6/7 for the spinal cord, ROI 12 for the pons were decreased (P <0.05), the difference has statistical significance. The remaining ROIs P>0.05 have no statistical significance. On T1WI, the average signal intensity of ROIs 1/2 for vertebrae, ROIs 5-8 as the spinal cord, ROI 12 for the pons, ROI 13 for the cerebellum were reduced, ROIs 10/11 for fat were increased (P<0.05), the difference has statistical significance. The remaining ROIs P >0.05 have no statistical significance. On T2WI of the Lumbar, the average signal intensity of ROIs 1-6/10 for vertebrae, ROI 9(on the same level of lumbar 5 ) for fat were reduced; ROI 8(on the same level of lumbar 1) for fat was increased (P<0.05), with statistical difference. ROI 7 for the spinal cord P=0.143>0.05, no statistical significance. On T1WI, the average signal intensity of ROIs 2-6/10 for vertebral, ROI 7 for the spinal cord were reduced; ROI 8 for fat was increased (P <0.05), with statistical difference. The remaining ROIs P>0.05 have no statistical significance.

In the cervical and lumbar MRI, multiple-transmit parallel RF transmission can improve B1 homogeneity, shorten TR, reduce local SAR value and scanning packages, thereby improve the image quality and reduce scanning time.

Multiple-transmit parallel RF transmission can improve the image quality and reduce scanning time.

Tian, C, Zhang, B, Chen, F, Zhu, B, Yu, H, Li, M, Li, D, Wang, H, Chen, W, Chan, Q, How to Improve the Quality and Speed of 3T MR Imaging in Cervical and Lumbar Spine by Multiple RF Transmission?.  Radiological Society of North America 2013 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, December 1 - December 6, 2013 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2013/13013770.html