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Abstract #1281

Abdominal MR Imaging at 3.0 T: The Combination of Parallel Radiofrequency Transmission and B1 Shimming Eliminates Patient-To-Patient Variations in Image Quality

Thomas G. Perkins1, 2, Jeremy L. VanTilburg3, Gwenael Herigault4, Ty Bremer3, Shahid M. Hussain1

1University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States; 2Philips Healthcare, Cleveland, OH, United States; 3The Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States; 4Philips Healthcare, Best, Netherlands

Parallel radiofrequency transmission (MTX) was recently introduced to address the standing wave artifacts present at 3.0 T by providing independent control over the RF frequency, phase, and amplitude of the transmit RF coil elements. This study explored how patient-specific B1 shimming can eliminate the patient-to-patient variations in the image quality of abdominal MRI at 3.0 T. 99 patients were evaluated using the same abdominal imaging protocol (53 without and 46 with MTX). A significant improvement in overall image quality and decreased patient-to-patient variability were realized with MTX. MTX will likely increase the accessibility and utilization of 3.0T for abdominal MRI.

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Keywords

abdominal acceptable access accessibility addition address adjusted amount amplitude anatomy application arterial artifacts available axial basis beginning best better body bolus brink challenging clinical clinically coil combination commercially consecutive consistency contrast control coronal coverage datasets decades delayed deviation diffusion digital dual either eliminate eliminates enhance equally exam exams excellent experienced explicitly fair field fluoroscopic forty frequency full fundamentally good gradient important improvement improvements improving included individual influence inhomogeneities initial integration introduced larger likely liver load loaded local many materials medical much noted opposed overall parallel patient patients pelvic period permission poor post prescribed protocol protocols quadrature quality radiologist reasons recently record reduced reflecting reproducibility respectively respiratory review routine scale scanned score scores sense sensitivity shading shimming shot significance significantly spatial spin standing studies substantially suppressed suppression system systems temporal tissue tissues transferred transmission transmit triggered triggering turbo typical typically unacceptable uniformity utilization utilized utilizing variations varied wave week weeks women years