Introduction to MRI

Welcome to the exciting world of MRI! This is a tutorial that will cover the basic aspects of MRI.

Copyright © 1994-1998 Ray Ballinger, All Rights Reserved.

Send questions and comments to Ray Ballinger at mridoc@ ufl.edu
URL: http://ballingerr.xray.ufl.edu/mritutor/index.html

PDF Version Conversion done by Markus Busold

of "The International NMR Resource site"
URL: http://www.nmr.de

Last Modified: September 22, 1998

Basics of MRI
Instrumentation
Image Characteristics
Artifacts
Pulse sequences
Safety
Contrast Agents
MR Angiography
MR Spectroscopy
Special Topics
Glossary
References

Basics of MRI

The following topics will be discussed:

Magnetism
Resonance and RF
Relaxation
References
 Magnetism

Magnetism is a property of matter that is a result of the orbiting electrons in atoms. The orbiting
electrons cause the atoms to have a magnetic moment associated with an intrinsic angular momentum
called 'spin'. Magnetic field strengths are measured in units of gauss (G) and Tesla (T). One Tesla is
equal to 10,000 gauss. The earth's magnetic field is about 0.5 gauss. The strength of electromagnets
used to pick up cars in junk yards is about the field strength of MRI machines (1.5-2.0T). You will
run across four terms describing the magnetic properties of materials, such as contrast agents, used in
MRI. These terms are ferromagnetism, paramagnetism, superparamagnetism, and diamagnetism

Ferromagnetism
Paramagnetism
Superparamagnetism
Diamagnetism

Ferromagnetism

Ferromagnetic materials generally contain iron, nickel, or cobalt. These materials include magnets,
and various objects one might find in a patient, such as aneurysm clips, parts of pacemakers, shrapnel,
etc. These materials have a large positive magnetic susceptibility, i.e., when placed in a magnet field,
the field strength is much stronger inside the material than outside. Ferromagnetic materials are also
characterized by being made up of clusters of 10^17 to 10^21 atoms called magnetic domains, that all
have their magnetic moments pointing in the same direction. The moments of the domains is random
in unmagnetized materials, and point in the same direction in magnetized materials. The figure to the
above illustrates the effect of a ferromagnetic material (grey circle) on the magnetic field flux lines
(blue). The ability to remain magnetized when an external magnetic field is removed is a distinguishing
factor compared to paramagnetic, superparamagnetic, and diamagnetic materials. On MR images,
these materials cause susceptibility artifacts characterized by loss of signal and spatial distortion. This
can occur with even fragments to small to be seen on plain x-ray. This is a common finding in a
cervical spine MRI post anterior fusion.

Paramagnetism

Paramagnetic materials include oxygen and ions of various metals like Fe, Mg, and Gd. These ions
have unpaired electrons, resulting in a positive magnetic susceptibility. The magnitude of this
susceptibility is less than one one-thousands of that of ferromagnetic materials. The effect on MRI is
increase in the T1 and T2 relaxation rates (decrease in the T1 and T2 times). The figure above
illustrates the effect of a paramagnetic material (grey circle) on the magnetic field flux lines (blue). Gd
is used as a in MR contrast agents. At the proper concentration, Gd contrast agents cause preferential
T1 relaxation enhancement, causing increase in signal on T1-weighted images. At high concentrations,
as is sometimes seen in the urinary bladder, loss of signal is seen instead, a result of the T2 relaxation
effects dominating.

Superparamagnetism

Superparamagnetic materials consist of individual domains of elements that have ferromagnetic

properties in bulk. Their magnetic susceptibility is between that of ferromagnetic and paramagnetic
materials. The figure to the left illustrates the effect of a superparamagnetic material (grey circle) on
the magnetic field flux lines (blue). Examples of a superparamagnetic materials include iron containing
contrast agents for bowel, liver, and lymph node imaging.

Diamagnetism

Diamagnetic materials have no intrinsic atomic magnetic moment, but when placed in a magnetic field
weakly repel the field, resulting in a small negative magnetic susceptibility. Materials like water,
copper, nitrogen, barium sulfate, and most tissues are diamagnetic.The figure above illustrates the
effect of a diamagnetic material (grey circle) on the magnetic field flux lines (blue). The weak negative
magnetic susceptibility contributes to the loss of signal seen in bowel on MRI after administration of
barium sulfate suspensions.

Resonance and RF

Protons in a magnetic field have a microscopic magnetization and act like tiny toy tops that wobble as
they spin.The rate of the wobbling or precession is the resonance or Larmor frequency. In the
magnetic field of an MRI scanner at room temperature, there is approximately the same number of
proton nuclei aligned with the main magnetic field Bo as counter aligned. The aligned position is
slightly favored, as the nucleus is at a lower energy in this position. For every one-million nuclei, there
is about one extra aligned with the Bo field as opposed to the field. This results in a net or
macroscopic magnetization pointing in the direction of the main magnetic field. Exposure of individual
nuclei to RF radiation (B1 field) at the Larmor frequency causes nuclei in the lower energy state to
jump into the higher energy state.

On a macroscopic level, exposure of an object or person to RF radiation at the Larmor frequency,

causes the net magnetization to spiral away from the Bo field. In the rotating frame of reference, the
net magnetization vector rotate from a longitudinal position a distance proportional to the time length
of the RF pulse. After a certain length of time, the net magnetization vector rotates 90 degrees and
lies in the transverse or x-y plane. It is in this position that the net magnetization can be detected on
MRI. The angle that the net magnetization vector rotates is commonly called the 'flip' or 'tip' angle. At
angles greater than or less than 90 degrees there will still be a small component of the magnetization
that will be in the x-y plane, and therefore be detected.

Relaxation
T1 Relaxation
The return of excited nuclei from the high energy state to the low energy or ground state is associated
with loss of energy to the surrounding nuclei. Nuclear magnetic resonance was originally use to
examine solids in the form of lattices, hence the name "spin-lattice" relaxation. Macroscopically, T1
relaxation is characterized by the longitudinal return of the net magnetization to its ground state of
maximum length in the direction of the main magnetic field. The rate of return is an exponential
process as is shown in the following figure.

The T1 relaxation time is the time for the magnetization to return to 63% of its original length. After
two T1 times, the magnetization is at 86% of its original length. Three T1 times gives 95%. Spins are
considered completely relaxed after 3-5 T1 times. Another term that you may hear is the T1 relaxation
rate. This is merely the reciprocal of the T1 time( 1/T1). T1 relaxation is fastest when the motion of
the nucleus (rotations and translations or "tumbling rate") matches that of the Larmor frequency. As a
result, T1 relaxation is dependent on the main magnetic field strength that specifies the Larmor
frequency. Higher magnetic fields are associated with longer T1 times.

T2 Relaxation
Microscopically, T2 relaxation or spin-spin relaxation occurs when spins in the high and low energy
state exchange energy but do not loose energy to the surrounding lattice. This results macroscopically
in loss of the transverse magnetization. In pure water, The T2 and T1 times are approximately the
same, 2-3 seconds. In biological materials, the T2 time is considerably shorter than the T1 time. For
CSF, T1=1.9 seconds and T2=0.25 seconds. For brain white matter, T1=0.5 seconds and T2=0.07
seconds (70 msec). T2 relaxation occurs exponentially like T1 relaxation with 63% of the transverse
magnetization gone after one T2 period as shown in the graph.

T2* Relaxation
T2* relaxation is the loss of signal seen with dephasing of individual magnetizations. It is
characterized macroscopically by loss of transverse magnetization at a rate greater than T2. It is
caused by magnetic field inhomogeneity an occurs in all magnets. The relationship between T2 and
T2* can be illustrated by the multiecho spin echo sequence shown in the diagram below. The 180
degree RF pulses used to generate the echo are rephasing the spins that have undergone T2* decay.
The gradual decline in signal from subsequent echos reflects T2 decay (See Figure). Unlike spin echo
sequences, gradient echo sequences do not refocus T2* decay. Therefore, gradient echo sequences
are more susceptible to ferromagnetic foreign bodies that distort the main magnetic field homogeneity.

Instrumentation

This section will cover the following topics:

 Magnets
RF and Gradient Coils
Electronics and Data Processing
References

RF and Gradient Coils

I have grouped these two topics together, although they serve different purposes.

RF Coils
RF coils are the "antenna" of the MRI system that broadcasts the RF signal to the patient and/or
receives the return signal. RF coils can be receive-only, in which case the body coil is used as a
transmitter; or transmit and receive (transceiver).

Surface coils are the simplest design of coil. They are simply a loop of
wire, either circular or rectangular, that is placed over the region of interest. The depth of the image
of a surface coil is generally limited to about one radius. Surface coils are commonly used for spines,
shoulders, TMJ's, and other relatively small body parts.

Paired saddle coils are commonly used for imaging of the knee. These coils
provide better homogeneity of the RF in the area of interest and are used as volume coils, unlike
surface coils. Paired saddle coils are also used for the x and y gradient coils. By running current in
opposite directions in the two halves of the gradient coil, the magnetic field is made stronger near one
and weaker near the other.

The Helmholtz pair coils consist of two circular coils parallel to each other. They
are used as z gradient coils in MRI scanners. They are also used occasionally as RF coils for pelvis
imaging and cervical spine imaging.
 The bird cage coil provides the best RF homogeneity of all the RF coils. It has
the appearance of a bird cage; hence, its name. This coil is commonly used as a transceiver coil for
imaging of the head. This type of coil is also used occasionally for imaging of the extremities, such as
the knees.

Gradient Coils

Gradient coils are used to produce deliberate variations in the main magnetic field (Bo). There are
usually three sets of gradient coils, one for each direction. The variation in the magnetic field permits
localization of image slices as well as phase encoding and frequency encoding. The set of gradient
coils for the z axis are Helmholtz pairs, and for the x and y axes, paired saddle coils.

Electronics and Data Processing

This will be an abbreviated description of the MRI scanner. To get a general idea of the major
components of a MRI scanner I have included the following schematic diagram:

Starting from the right hand side, we have the computer that directs all of the action in the MRI
acquisition and acquires and processes the data. The computer tells the gradient amplifiers and RF
transmitter when to turn on and off to obtain the proper pulse sequence. The RF receiver amplifier is
also controlled by the computer and relays the signal received by the RF coil from the patient to the
A-D converter that digitizes the signal, and from there to the computer to be reconstructed into an
image.
 Image Characteristics

Unlike CT where the image appearance is related primarily to the electron density of the material, MR
images depend on many variables including proton density, T1 and T2 relaxation effects, flow effects,
diffusion effects, and susceptibility effects. Image quality is generally described in terms of SNR,
spacial resolution and contrast. There is interdependence of of the SNR, resolution, and time of
acquisition.

SNR
Resolution
Time
Relaxation Effects
Trade Offs
References

SNR

The SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) is a term heard commonly in MRI circles. The SNR determines how
grainy the image appears, the more grainy, the less the SNR. The SNR is measured frequently by
calculating the difference in signal intensity between the area of interest and the background (usually
chosen from the air surrounding the object). In air, any signal present should be noise. The difference
between the signal and the background noise is divided by the standard deviation of the signal from
the background-- an indication of the variability of the background noise. SNR is proportional to the
volume of the voxel and to the square root of the number or averages and phase steps (assuming
constant sized voxels). Since averaging and increasing the phase steps takes time, SNR is related
closely to the acquisition time. Decreasing the FOV, increasing the phase or frequency steps (with
constant FOV), and decreasing the slice thickness will decrease the SNR. Likewise, increasing the
FOV, decreasing the matrix size, and increasing the slice thickness with improve the SNR.
You might ask now why I said in the first line above that increasing the phase steps would increase
the SNR and in the next breath, that increasing the phase steps would decrease the SNR. In the
former case, the voxel size remains constant therefore the FOV would have to have increased. In the
latter case, the FOV is kept constant so the voxel size would have to decrease. The increase in phase
steps will improve the SNR by the square root of the number of phase steps, but the decrease in
volume reduces the SNR more quickly.
 Resolution

Spatial resolution determines how "sharp" the image looks. Low resolution will give either fuzzy
edges, or a pixelly appearance to the image. Spatial resolution is defined by the size of the imaging
voxels. Since voxels are three dimensional rectangular solids, the resolution is frequently different in
the three different directions. The size of the voxel and therefore the resolution depends on matrix
size, the field-of-view (FOV), and the slice thickness. The matrix size is the number of frequency
encoding steps, in one direction; and the number of phase encoding steps, in the other direction of the
image plane. Assuming everything else is constant, increasing the number of frequency encodings or
the number of phase steps results in improved resolution. The frequency encoding depends of how
rapidly the FID signal is sampled by the scanner. Increasing the sampling rate results in no time
penalty. Increasing the number of phase steps increases the time of the acquisition proportionately.
This is why you may see images that have fewer phase encodings than frequency encodings, e.g.,
128x256 or 192x256.
The FOV is the total area that the matrix of phase and frequency encoding cover. Dividing the FOV
by the matrix size gives you the voxel size; hence, increasing the FOV in either direction increases the
size of the voxels and decreases the resolution. Decreasing the FOV improves the resolution.
The depth of the voxel is determined by the slice thickness. This is almost always the largest
dimension of the voxel. Therefore, the resolution perpendicular to the image plane is the poorest.

Time

The time of acquisition for a conventional spin echo or gradient echo sequence is the product of the
repetition time, phase encoding steps, and number of averages (TR x phase steps x NEX). For
example, with a one second TR, 128 phase steps, and two averages we would get an acquisition time
of about 1 x 128 x 2= 256 seconds or 4 minutes and 16 seconds. The actual time will be slightly
longer. Fast spin echo and fast gradient echo sequences perform more than one phase encoding step
per repetition time, resulting in reduce acquisition time. This is discussed further elsewhere.

Relaxation Effects

T1 and T2 relaxation rates effect the SNR in an image. Improvement in the SNR is seen when the TR
is increased up to about 3-5 T1 times. Changing the TR time will also effect the T1 weighting of the
image and the acquisition time. T1 weighting occurs in a short TR spin echo sequence because of
incomplete recovery of longitudinal magnetization. The effect of TR on SNR can be shown
graphically by a T1 relaxation curve as illustrated in the exponential growth curve below:
As the TR is increased to several times the T1, the longitudinal magnetization has time to recover
with resulting improvement in SNR.
Decrease in SNR is seen with an increase the TE secondary to T2 effects in spin echo sequences, and
T2* effects in gradient echo sequences. The exponential decay curve below illustrates the lose of
signal with time.

In spite of the decrease in SNR, we deliberately increase the TE to improve the T2 weighting
(contrast) of an image. Ideally, we would want a long TR of several T1 times to minimize the T1
effects in a T2 weighted sequence.

Trade Offs

As you may have gathered from reading up to this point, the SNR, resolution, and acquisition time,
are all interrelated. Changing one effects the others. One job of yours as a radiologist may be to
decide what factors are more important for an examination of a particular body part or patient. When
looking at the pituitary or cranial nerves, for example, you may want to sacrifice some SNR or longer
acquisition time for improved spatial resolution. On the other hand, in a claustrophobic of patient in
pain who may be moving around, you may sacrifice both resolution and SNR for the shortest possible
examination time. A table is available to summarize the trade offs between SNR, resolution, time,
maximum number of slices and distance covered.

Trade Off Table

This table shows the effect on the top row of parameters, of increasing the variables in the column on
the right. A plus (+) sign indicates an increase, a minus (-) sign indicates a decrease, and (nc) indicates
no change. Many of these parameters are interdependent so we are looking at the direct effects of
changes of single variables.

Increase Parameters Distance Max. Number of

SNR Resolution Acquisition Time
below Covered Slices
FOV + - nc nc nc
NEX + nc + nc nc
Slice Thick + - nc + nc
Gap + - nc + nc
TR + nc + nc +
TE - nc nc nc -
Matrix size - + + nc nc
Bandwidth - nc nc nc +
Magnet strength + nc nc nc nc

MRI Artifacts

There are numerous kinds of artifacts that can occur in MRI. Some effect the quality of the MRI exam
while others do not effect the diagnostic quality but may be confused with pathology.

Chemical Shift Artifacts

Aliasing
Black Boundary Artifacts
Gibbs or Truncation Artifacts
Zipper Artifacts
Phase-encoded Motion Artifacts
Entry Slice Phenomenon
Slice-overlap Artifacts
Magic Angle Effects
Moire Fringes
RF Overflow Artifacts
Central Point Artifact
Susceptibility Artifacts
 Zero-fill Artifact (Zebra Artifact)
References

Chemical Shift Artifacts

The chemical shift artifact is commonly noticed in the spine at the vertebral body end plates, in the
abdomen, and in the orbits where fat and other tissues form borders. In the frequency direction, the
MRI scanner uses the frequency of the signal to indicate spatial position. Since water in organs and
muscle resonate at a different frequency than fat, the MRI scanner mistakes the frequency difference
as a spatial (positional) difference. As a result, fat containing structures are shifted in the frequency
direction from their true positions. In the spine, this causes one end plate to appear thicker than the
opposite one; in the abdomen and orbits, this causes a black border at one fat-water interface, and a
bright border at the opposite border. This artifact is shown in the following axial image of a kidney

where the bright border along the top of the kidney and the dark border along the bottom of the
kidney represent the artifact. This artifact is greater at higher field strengths and lesser at higher
gradient strengths. Practically about the only way to eliminate this artifact is to use a fat suppression
technique.

Aliasing or "Wrap-around "

Aliasing or wrap-around is a common artifact that occurs when the field of view (FOV) is smaller
than the body part being imaged. The part of the body that lies beyond the edge of the FOV is
projected on to the other side of the image. This can be corrected, if necessary, by oversampling the
data. In the frequency direction, this is accomplished by sampling the signal twice as fast. In the phase
direction, the number of phase-encoding steps must be increased with a longer study as a result.
The following axial images of the brain demonstrate this artifact. the first image shows wrap-around
of the back of the head on to the front of the head, where the phase-encoded direction is
anterior-posterior.
The second image has the phase and frequency directions reversed resulting in absence of the aliasing
artifact.

Oversampling was used in the frequency direction to eliminate the aliasing.

Black Boundary Artifact

The Black Boundary Artifact is an artificially created black line located at fat-water interfaces such as
muscle-fat interfaces. This results in a sharp delineation of the muscle-fat boundary that is sometimes
visually appealing but not an anatomical structure. The following is a coronal image through the upper
body with an echo time of 7ms. A black line is seen surrounding the muscles of the shoulder girdle as
well as around the liver.
This artifact can occur for a couple of reasons. The most common reason I have found is a result of
selecting an echo time (TE) in which the fat and water spins (located in the same pixel at an interface)
are out of phase, cancelling each other. At 1.5 T, the 3.5 PPM difference in frequency between water
and saturated fat results in cancellation of spins at 4.5 ms multiples, starting at about 2.3 ms; for
example at 6.8ms, 11.3ms, and 15.9 ms. To avoid this artifact, TE's close to 4.5ms, 9ms, 13.6ms,...
should be chosen.

Gibbs or Truncation Artifacts

Gibbs or truncation artifacts are bright or dark lines that are seen parallel and adjacent to borders of
abrupt intensity change, as when going from bright CSF to dark spinal cord on a T2-weighted image.
In the spinal cord, this artifact can simulate a small syrinx to the unaware. It is also seen in other
locations as at the brain/calvarium interface. This artifact is related to the finite number of encoding
steps used by the Fourier transform to reconstruct an image. The more encoding steps, the less intense
and narrower the artifacts. The first axial image is a phantom containing water, surrounded by air. The
image was encoded 128 times in the horizontal direction and 256 times in the vertical direction.
Note the prominent light and dark line along the sides that fade as they approach the top and bottom
of the phantom. The second image was encoded 256 times in both directions.

Minimal artifact is seen uniformly around the periphery of the phantom.

The diagram below shows the Gibbs effect resulting from a Fourier transformation of a sharp change
in image intensity.

Zipper Artifacts

There are various causes for zipper artifacts in images. Most of them are related to hardware or
software problems beyond the radiologist immediate control. The zipper artifacts that can be
controlled easily are those due to RF entering the scanning room when the door is open during
acquisition of images. RF from some radio transmitters will cause zipper artifacts that are oriented
perpendicular to the frequency axis of your image. Frequently there is more than one artifact line on
an image from this cause. Other equipment and software problems can cause zippers in either axis.
This is an axial MRI of the head in a patient. The scanner room door was left open during the
acquisition causing the zipper artifacts shown.

Phase-encoded Motion Artifacts

Phase-encoded motion artifacts appear as bright noise or repeating densities oriented in the phase
direction, occurring as the results of motion during acquisition of a sequence. These artifacts may be
seen from arterial pulsations, swallowing, breathing, peristalsis, and physical movement of a patient.
They can be distinguished from Gibbs or truncation artifacts because they extend across the entire
FOV, unlike truncation artifacts that diminish quickly away from the boundary causing them.
Phase-encoded artifacts can be reduced by various techniques depending on their cause and location.
Arterial pulsation artifacts can be reduced by spatial presaturation pulses prior to entry of the vessel
into the slices. Spatial presaturation can also reduce some swallowing and breathing artifacts. Surface
coil localization can reduce artifacts generated at a distance from the area of interest. Pulse sequences
can be shortened, and respiratory and/or cardiac or peripheral gaiting techniques may also help. The
following axial image of the head shows a phase-encoded motion artifact running transversely across
the back of the head (posterior fossa) as a result of venous flow in the transverse sinuses.
 Entry Slice Phenomenon

Entry slice phenomenon occurs when unsaturated spins in blood first enter into a slice or slices. It is
characterized by bright signal in a blood vessel (artery or vein) at the first slice that the vessel enters.
Usually the signal is seen on more than one slice, fading with distance. This artifact has been confused
with thrombosis with disastrous results. The characteristic location and if necessary, the use of
gradient echo flow techniques can be used to differentiate entry slice artifacts from occlusions.

Slice-overlap Artifacts

The slice-overlap artifact is a name I've given to the loss of signal seen in an image from a multi-angle,
multi-slice acquisition, as is obtained commonly in the lumbar spine. If the slices obtained at different
disk spaces are not parallel, then the slices may overlap. If two levels are done at the same time, e.g.,
L4-5 and L5-S1, then the level acquired second will include spins that have already been saturated.
This causes a band of signal loss crossing horizontally in your image, usually worst posteriorly.The
dark horizontal bands in the bottom of the following axial image through the lumbar spine
demonstrates this artifact.
As long as the saturated area stays posterior to the spinal canal it causes no harm.

Magic Angle Effects

Magic angle effects are seen most frequently in tendons and ligaments that are oriented at about a 55
degree angle to the main magnetic field. Signal from water molecules associates with the tendon
collagen fibers is not normally seen because of dipolar interactions that result in very short T2 Times.
At an angle of about 55 degrees to the main magnetic field, the dipolar interactions become zero,
resulting in an increase of the T2 Times about 100 fold. This results in signal being visible in tedons
with ordinary pulse sequences. A bright signal from this artifact is commonly seen in the rotator cuff
and occasionally in the patellar tendon and elsewhere. The following image shows increase signal in
the distal patellar tendon from this magic angle effect.
 Moire Fringes

Moire fringes are an interference pattern most commonly seen when doing gradient echo images with
the body coil as shown in the figure.

Because of lack of perfect homogeneity of the main magnetic field from one side of the body to the
other, aliasing of one side of the body to the other results in superimposition of signals of different
phases that alternatively add and cancel. This causes the banding appearance and is similar to the
effect of looking though two screen windows.
 RF Overflow Artifacts

RF overflow artifacts cause a nonuniform, washed-out appearance to an image as shown in the

following axial image of a head.

This artifact occurs when the signal received by the scanner from the patient is too intense to be
accurately digitized by the analog-to-digital converter. Autoprescanning usually adjusts the receiver
gain to prevent this from occurring but if the artifact still occurs, the receiver gain can be decreased
manually.

Central Point Artifact

The central point artifact is a focal dot of increased signal in the center of an image. It is caused by a
constant offset of the DC voltage in the receiver. After fourier transformation, this constant offset
gives the bright dot in the center of the image as shown in the diagram below.

The following axial MRI image of the head shows a central point artifact projecting in the pons
(bright dot in the middle of the image).
 Susceptibility Artifacts

Susceptibility artifacts occur as the result of microscopic gradients or variations in the magnetic field
strength that occurs near the interfaces of substance of different magnetic susceptibility. Large
susceptibility artifacts are commonly seen surrounding ferromagnetic objects inside of diamagnetic
materials (such as the human body). These gradients cause dephasing of spins and frequency shifts of
the surrounding tissues. The net result are bright and dark areas with spatial distortion of surrounding
anatomy. These artifacts are worst with long echo times and with gradient echo sequences.
This is an axial MRI of the head in a patient with mascara on her eyelids. Susceptibility artifacts from
the mascara obscure the front half of the globes.

Zero-Fill Artifacts

Occasionally, data in the K-space array will be missing or will be set to zero by the scanner as shown
in the figure below.

The abrupt change from signal to no signal at all results in artifacts in the images such as zebra stripes
and other anomalies. The following coronal image of the shoulder shows an example of a zero-fill
artifact.
 MRI Pulse Sequences

There are many pulse sequences available for imaging (and spectroscopy). Listed below are some of
the commonly used pulse sequences in MRI.

Spin echo sequence

Inversion recovery sequence
Gradient echo sequences
Diffusion pulse sequences
Saturation Recovery Sequence
Echo-planar pulse sequence
Spiral Pulse Sequences
References

Spin Echo Sequence

The spin echo pulse sequence is the most commonly used pulse sequence. The pulse sequence timing
can be adjusted to give T1-weighted, Proton or spin density, and T2-weighted images. Dual echo and
multiecho sequences can be used to obtain both proton density and T2-weighted images
simultaneously.
The two variables of interest in spin echo sequences is the repetition time (TR) and the echo time
(TE). All spin echo sequences include a slice selective 90 degree pulse followed by one or more 180
degree refocusing pulses as shown in the following diagram.
Dual echo spin echo sequence
In this diagram, RF is the radio frequency pulse, a slice selective 90 degree pulse followed by two 180
degree refocusing pulses. GS, GP, and GF are the slice selective, phase encoding, and frequency
encoding gradients, respectively. "Echo" represents the signal received from the slice of interest in the
body. A short TR an short TE will give a T1-weighted image, a long TR and short TE (first echo) will
give a proton density image, and a long TR and long TE (second echo) will give a T2-weighted
image.
An example of the changes in the net magnetization vector for a spin echo sequence with one echo is
shown below. After 1/2 of the TE time, dephasing of individual spins in the volume occurs as
represented by the black and red arrows. The 180 degree RF pulse flips these spins to the opposite
side in the x-y plane so that after another 1/2 TE, they refocus and are detected.

Inversion Recovery Sequence

Inversion recovery pulse sequences are used to give heavy T1-weighting. In addition, the STIR (short
TI inversion recovery) sequence can be used for fat suppression, where a relatively short inversion
time is used to null the fat signal while maintaining water and soft tissue signal. The basic part of an
inversion recovery sequence is a 180 degree RF pulse that inverts the magnetization followed by a 90
degree RF pulse that brings the residual longitudinal magnetization into the x-y or transverse plane
where it can be detected by an RF coil. In imaging, the signal is usually refocused with a 180 degree
pulse as in a spin echo sequence.The time between the initial 180 degree pulse and the 90 degree
pulse is the inversion time (TI). A diagram of the sequence is shown below.

Inversion recovery sequence

With a TI of about 140 ms on a 1.5 T MRI machine, the fat signal is nulled while the water proton
signal is still present. This occurs because the T1 of fat is significantly smaller than the T1 of water.
The diagram below shows the magnetization of water (black arrow) and fat (red arrow) during the
STIR sequence used for fat suppression. One drawback of this sequence is the partial loss of proton
signal during the TI time. Also the TR time must be longer than that of a spin echo sequence for
recovery of longitudinal magnetization.
 Gradient Echo Sequences

The gradient echo sequences show a wide range of variations compared to the spin echo and inversion
recovery sequences. Not only is the basic sequence varied by adding dephasing or rephasing gradients
at the end of the sequence, but there is a significant extra variable to specify in addition to things like
the TR and TE. This variable is the flip or tip angle of the spins. The flip angle is usually at or close to
90 degrees for a spin echo sequence but commonly varies over a range of about 10 to 80 degrees with
gradient echo sequences. For the basic gradient echo sequence FLASH, illustrated below, the larger
tip angles give more T1 weighting to the image and the smaller tip angle give more T2 or actually T2*
weighting to the images.

Basic gradient echo sequence (FLASH)

Images from other gradient echo sequences such as GRASS and FISP have less intuitive tissue
contrast characteristics than FLASH. The FLASH and SPGR sequences show better tissue contrast
between white matter and grey matter in the brain and spinal cord than GRASS or FISP and are
preferred when the time of acquisition does not have to be very short. GRASS and FISP maintain
better SNR than FLASH at short TR times and are therefore preferred with breath-holding
techniques, for example.
A vector magnetization diagram of the gradient echo sequence is shown below. Note that the spins
are refocused by reversing the direction of the spins rather than flipping them over to the other side of
the x-y plane as occurs with the spin echo sequence. Gradient refocusing of the spins takes
considerably less time than 180 degree RF pulse refocusing. One big disadvantage of gradient echo
sequences is the loss of signal from static magnetic field inhomogeneity. This occurs to a lesser degree
with spin echo sequences (and for a different reason). Magnetic susceptibility artifacts are therefore
more pronounced on gradient echo sequences that on spin echo sequences.
 Diffusion Pulse Sequences

Various pulse sequences may be modified to enhance signal loss resulting from water molecules that
show significant diffusion vs those with more restricted diffusion. Certain pathology shows restriction
of diffusion, such as cytotoxic edema and demyelinization. With a diffusion-weighted pulse sequence,
these abnormalities can be made more obvious. Depending on the particular gradient/gradients used,
anisotropic diffusion can be detected, as occurs normally in white matter tracts. The picture below is a
spin echo sequence with diffusion gradients added. The gradient coil used to produce the diffusion
need not be a separate gradient or gradients from those used for spatial encoding. The degree of
diffusion weighting is dependent primarily on the area under the diffusion gradients and on the interval
between the gradients. Other factors include the effect of the spatial localization gradients and the size
of the voxels.
 Saturation Recovery Sequence

The saturation recovery (SR) sequences are rarely used for imaging now. Their primary use at this
time is as a technique to measure T1 times more quickly than an inversion recovery pulse sequence.
Saturation recovery sequences consist of multiple 90 degree RF pulses at relatively short repetition
times (TR). An example of a SR sequence is shown below. Residual longitudinal magnetization after
the first 90 degree RF pulse is dephased by a spoiling gradient (in this case with the slice select
gradient). Longitudinal magnetization that develops during the TR period after the dephasing gradient
is rotated into the transverse plane by another 90 degree pulse. A gradient echo is acquired
immediately after this. The signal will reflect T1 differences in tissues because of different amounts of
longitudinal recovery during the TR period.

Echoplanar Pulse Sequences

Echoplanar imaging is a gradient echo technique related to fast gradient echo imaging. Instead of one
to 16 phase steps per acquisition TR, the entire set of 64 or 128 phase steps is acquired during one
acquisition TR. This is accomplished by rapidly reversing the readout or frequency- encoding
gradient. This switching or reversal may also be done in a sinusoidal fashion. Echoplanar sequences
may use entirely gradient echos or may combine a spin echo with the train of gradient echos as
illustrated in the diagram below. Echoplanar images may be acquired in less that 1/10th of a second
and therefore may be useful in cardiac imaging and other rapidly changing processes.
 Spiral Pulse Sequences

Spiral scanning in MRI is unlike spiral scanning in CT where the x-ray tube is continuously rotating
and data is continuously being acquired. In MRI the word "spiral" refers to the pattern of sampling
k-space. In conventional imaging sequences including spin echo and gradient echo and in fast imaging
sequences, a line or multiple lines of k-space in the frequency direction are acquired consecutively. In
spiral scanning, k-space is acquired in a spiral trajectory. The entire k-space can be acquired during a
single acquisition, or interleaved using more than one acquisition. This sequence allows faster image
acquisition than the fast echo sequences but is slower than the echoplanar imaging. Spiral scanning
tends to have fewer artifacts than echoplanar imaging since adjacent points in k-space are acquired in
close temporal proximity. The figures below shows how the acquisition of data in k-space is done
with conventional sequences and with spiral scanning.
 Safety

Safety can be divided up into four areas:

Main Magnetic Field

Varying Magnetic (Gradient) Fields
Radio Frequency
References

Main Magnetic Field and Safety

The main magnetic field of a 1.5 T magnet is about 30,000 times the strength of the earth's magnetic
field. It is strong enough to pull fork-lift tines off of machinery, pull heavy-duty floor buffers and mop
buckets into the bore of the magnet, pull stretchers across the room and turn oxygen bottles into
flying projectiles. Deaths have occurred from trauma as a result of these effects. Smaller objects such
as pagers, bobby pins and pens have been known to be pulled off the person carrying them.
The strong field also effects common devices such as pacemakers and watches. The magnetic reed
switch in modern pacemakers is disturbed by strong magnetic fields resulting in possible deleterious
effects to the patient with one implanted. Mechanic watches will "freeze up" in a strong field,
sometimes permanently.
Many intracranial aneurysm clips are ferromagnetic and as a result experience a torque or twisting in a
magnetic field. Not everyone with an aneurysm clip experiences a fatal hemorrhage when placed in a
magnet, but several cases have been reported.
Some types of heart valves (e.g., Star-Edwards) are torqued in a magnetic field: however, this torque
is less than the stresses that occur normally as a result of blood flow. Therefore heart valves are now
considered not to be an absolute contraindication for MRI.
More of an annoyance than a safety problem is the ability of the magnetic field of a MRI machine to
erase the information contained on the magnetic strip on ATM and credit cards. This may occur a
short distance inside of the scanner room of a MRI machine.
Some metallic objects that are usually safe near an MRI machine are gold jewelry and eyeglass frames.

Varying Magnetic (Gradient) Fields

Varying magnetic fields are necessary in order to obtain images from MRI scanners. Changing
magnetic field induce electrical currents in conductors ( this is how an electrical generator works). In
patients with metal in their body, the potential exists for electrical currents being induced in the metal
with subsequent heating. This may occur with metal foreign bodies or some surgical implants. It does
not universally occur and some patients with hip prostheses, for example, may be scanned without
harm.
Very rapidly changing magnetic fields as may be achieved with echo planar imaging can cause nerve
stimulation. This stimulation can effect motor nerves with resulting muscle contraction as well as the
retina with resulting flickering lights called "magnetophosphenes".

Radio Frequency

The radio frequency power that is capable of being produced matches that of many small radio
stations (15-20 kW). As a result there is the presence of heating effects from the RF. In most pulse
sequences, the heating is insignificant and does not exceed the FDA guidelines. New pulse sequences
such as for echo planar imaging and some spectroscopy localization techniques are capable of
exceeding the FDA guidelines. Monitoring of the power deposition in patients is a requirement for
FDA approval of clinical MRI scanners.
Potential for electrical shock exists with RF coils so proper grounding and insulation of coils is
necessary. Any damage to coils or their cables needs prompt attention. Also looping of the cable to a
coil can result in burns to patients that come into contact with them. It is best to avoid all contact with
the RF coil cables.

MRI Contrast Agents

Although MRI was initially hoped to provide a means of making definitive diagnoses noninvasively,
we have found that the addition of contrast agents in many cases improves our sensitivity and/or
specificity. Paul Lauterbur and his associated were the first to demonstrate the feasibility of using
paramagnetic contrast agents to improve tissue discrimination in MRI. I have somewhat arbitrarily
grouped this topic into the subjects listed below. If you would like to review the differences between
diamagnetic, paramagnetic, superparamagnetic, and ferromagnetic; look over the magnetism section.

Gastrointestinal contrast agents

Intravenous contrast agents
Intravascular (blood pool) contrast agents
Tumor-specific agents
Hepatobiliary contrast agents
Reticuloendothelial Contrast Agents
References

Gastrointestinal MRI Contrast

Agents
Acceptance of the us of MR in abdominal imaging has been limited in part by difficulty in
distinguishing bowel from intraabdominal masses and normal organs. The use of enteric contrast
agents can in this problem. There is currently one agent that has FDA approval for this use, a
perfluorochemical (see below). Barium and solutions of ferric ammonium citrate (Geritol) have been
used but are not specifically approved for this use. GI contrast agents can be divided into positive
agents (appearing bright on MRI) or negative agents (appearing dark on MRI).

Positive Contrast Agents

Negative Contrast Agents
Positive vs Negative GI Contrast Agents

Positive Contrast Agents

Positive GI contrast agents can be divided into three categories: Paragmagnetic agents (e.g.,
Gd-DTPA solutions), short T1-relaxation agents (e.g., mineral oil), and combinations of these.

Paramagnetic Agents
Proposed paramagnetic, positive GI contrast agents include ferric chloride, ferric ammonium
citrate, and gadolinium-DTPA (with and without mannitol). Paramagnetic materials cause both
T1 and T2 shortening. At low concentrations used for bowel opacification, the T1 shortening
dominates the signal intensity. This results in high intensity on T1-weighted, T2-weighted and
gradient echo images. At high concentrations, T2 shortening causes decreased signal in all but
very short echo sequences. This resembles the effect seen with superparamagnetic iron oxide
(see Negative GI Contrast Agents). At intermediate concentrations, a mixture of T1 and T2
shortening results in increased signal on T1-weighted images and decreased signal on
T2-weighted images. Ferric ammonium citrate and Gd-DTPA with mannitol are safe and
effective in humans, but both have minor side effects. Ferric iron can cause teeth staining,
gastric irritation, nausea, diarrhea, and constipation. Mannitol can nausea, vomiting, and
diarrhea. Gd-DTPA without mannitol is well tolerated but usually fails in opacify the entire
small bowel. It also needs to be buffered when used orally since this chelate is not very stable at
the low pH found in the stomach.

Short T1-relaxation Agents

Short T1 relaxation time GI contrast agents include mineral oil, oil emulsions, and sucrose
polyester. In these materials, protons contained in -CH2- groups relax at a faster rate than those
in water resulting in a short T1 time. This gives a bright signal in the bowel on T1-weighted
sequences. Of these materials only oil emulsions have been used successfully in humans. These
are palatable and produce homogeneous opacification of the stomach and small bowel, but are
absorbed in the distal small bowel and fail to fill the colon. This is circumvented by using a
contrast enema when the colon must be better visualized. A novel approach to retrograde
opacification of the colon has been shown in rats with a nonabsorbable fat substitute, sucrose
polyester but no human trials for this use have been done.
Combination Contrast Agents
Combinations of oil emulsion and paramagnetic substances may be used as bowel contrast
agents. These include an emulsion containing corn oil and ferric ammonium citrate, and an
emusion containing baby formula with ferrous sulfate. These are palatable mixtures that
distribute uniformly in the bowel, however signal is lost in the distal small bowel in adults,
because of absorption of both the oil and the iron. Unlike in adults, the faster transit through the
small bowel in infants delivers bright contrast to the colon. The advantage of this combination
over oil emulsions alone is the enhancement of signal on T1-weighted and especially
T2-weighted images.

Negative GI Contrast Agents

Negative GI contrast materials can be divided into three categories: diamagnetic agents,
superparamagnetic agents, and perfluorochemicals.

Diamagnetic Contrast Agents

Two diamagnetic agents have been tested for use as a negative GI contrast agent. The first was
a combination of clay minerals found in a popular antidiarrheal medication, Kaopectate. This
mixture of kaolin and bentonite is thought to facilitate the relaxation rate of protons in water
molecules. The water molecules next to the surface of the clay are continually exchanging
position with molecules away from the surface resulting in phase dispersion that also causes
loss of signal. When used in volunteers, this mixture causes loss of signal in the stomach and
duodenum resulting in improved visualization of the pancreas. Distribution in the small bowel is
reported to be nonuniform.
The second diamagnetic contrast agent causing loss of signal in the bowel is barium sulfate
suspension. The decrease in signal seen is a result of two processes: 1) replacement of water
protons by barium; and 2) magnetic susceptibility effects around the barium particals. Testing of
a conventional barium sulfate suspension (60% wt/wt) in volunteers and patients gives
encouraging results. Our in vitro and volunteer studies at higher concentrations of barium
sulfate show that the 170% to 220% wt/vl suspensions give greater loss of signal than the
original barium tested. The loss of signal from barium sulfate suspensions does not match that
seen with superparamagnetic iron oxide described below, however barium suspensions are
currently readily available and probably will be much less expensive.

Superparamagnetic Contrast Agents

There are several preparations of superparamagnetic agents can be used as oral MRI contrast
agents. These include magnetite albumin microspheres, oral magnetic particles (Nycomed A/S,
Oslo, Norway), and superparamagnetic iron oxide (AMI121, Advanced Magnetics, Cambridge,
Mass.). These three contain small iron oxide crystals approximately 250 to 350 angstroms in
diameter and are mixtures of Fe2O3 and Fe3O4. The small size of the crystals contributes to
their large magnetic moment without significant residual magnetization after removal from the
magnetic field, i.e., they are superparamagnetic, not ferromagnetic. These crystals are
embedded in an inert material, albumin matrix in the first case, a monodispersed polymer in the
second, and an inert silicon polymer in the third. The inert materials reduce absorption and
therefore, toxicity from the iron. They also help to suspend the particles in solution.
Marked loss of signal in the stomach and small bowel results in excellent visualization of the
pancreas, anterior renal margins and para-aortic regions. Decrease in the phase encoded
artifacts from respiratory and peristaltic motion of the stomach and small bowel are noted. At
certain concentrations and volumes, metallic artifacts are seen in the distal small bowel and
colon on delayed imaging. These may be related to settling and concentration of the particles.
Optimization of the dose of contrast agent and addition of more suspending agents may
overcome this problem. Agents such as cellulose or polyethylene glycol may be added to
enhance relaxation and thereby allow reduction in the concentration of iron oxide needed. This
may reduce the artifacts.

Perfluorochemicals
Diamagnetic and paramagnetic effects are not the only mechanisms for reducing signal in the
bowel. The absence of mobile protons will give this effect as seen with barium sulfate
suspended in D2O, carbon dioxide, and perfluorochemicals. CO2 from effervescent granules is
moderately well tolerated by patients but shows inhomogeneous distribution in the small bowel,
and requires the use of glucagon to decrease peristalsis.
Perfluorochemicals are organic compounds in which the protons are replaced by fluorine. This
results in an absence of signal in the bowel. Perfluoroctylbromide(PFOB)(C8F17Br) is the only
perfluorochemical that has been investigated for oral use in humans to date. It is commercially
available now as perflubron (Imagent GI, Alliance), but at high cost ($200 per 200cc bottle).
Potential advantages are a rapid transit through the small bowel because of its low surface
tension, the lack of taste or odor making it palatable, and the absence of any known side effects.
PFOB is immiscible as are all perfluorochemicals that are in their pure or "neat" state. This may
be an advantage because PFOB cannot be diluted by bowel contents, however, miscible agents
that mix with fluid in the bowel may give more uniform filling of the GI tract. Emulsifying
PFOB, as is done for intravascular use of perfluorochemicals, may overcome this potential
problem.

Positive vs Negative GI Contrast Agents

The question of which type of contrast enhancement of the bowel is the best, positive or
negative, is sill debated. We may find a positive or negative oral contrast agent better depending
on the specific organ or disease suspected and the pulse sequence used.
Two disadvantages of positive oral contrast agents are ghosting artifacts because of respiratory
and peristaltic motion, and loss of signal from dilution with secretions and retained fluid in the
bowel. One method of reducing ghosting artifacts is to use a pharmaceutical, such as glucagon
or scopolamine, to reduce bowel motion. This increases the invasiveness of the procedure.
Other methods include the use of breath holding pulse sequences and first order flow
compensation. Further refinements of pulse techniques probably will make breath holding
sequences more popular for abdominal MRI. This will decrease artifacts from both peristalsis
and breathing.
Dilution of positive contrast agents occurs in the upper GI tract if they are miscible with water
because of gastrointestinal secretions. This allows for the use of a small dose, but will cause
loss of signal intensity as the concentration decreases. Immiscible positive agents using oils,
especially nonabsorbable ones, will not experience the loss of signal with dilution. They will
probably require a larger volume to replace any residual bowel contents.
Another disadvantage of a positive oral contrast agent is the possibility of residual material in
the bowel simulating a mass when surrounded by bright signal. The opposite is also true. A
bright mass (such as a lipoma) might be obscured by the contrast agent.
An advantage of positive oral contrast agents is the availability of several of these materials at
this time. These include ferric ammonium citrate, pediatric formula, and homemade oil
emulsions. Positive agents are also inexpensive (except for gadolinium solutions) and are safe to
use.
Disadvantages of negative oral contrast materials include their high cost and lack of general
availability (except for CO2 and barium), and limited evaluations of safety on large number of
patients. The expense may decrease with greater use of these contrast materials and with
competition between manufacturers.Metallic artifacts are seen when iron oxide concentrations,
ideal for spin echo sequences, are used with gradient echo sequences. This is because gradient
echo sequences have greater sensitivity to magnetic field inhomogeneity. Also there were some
metallic artifacts seen in the colon on delayed (24 hour) imaging with the iron oxide
preparations that probably can be eliminated as discussed above.
Lack of a fat plane between the negative contrast filled bowel and low signal intensity organs
may make it difficult to distinguish normal contours. An example of this is the plane between
the stomach and the pancreas on T2-weighted sequences. The majority of pathology appears
bright on T2-weighted sequences and should be seen, however.
Advantages of negative oral contrast materials are several. The lack of signal in the bowel
removes a source of ghosting artifacts from spin echo sequences that may be present with
positive agents. The loss of signal is fairly independent of concentration of superparamagnetic
iron oxide suspensions on spin echo sequences so that dilution should not be a problem. The
perfluorochemicals are immiscible with water and will not encounter dilution problems either.

Intravenous Contrast Agents

Intravenous contrast agents include chelates of paramagnetic ions, both ionic and nonionic. The
particulates, sequestered in the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes, the intravascular agents,
confined to the blood pool, and tumor specific agents will be discusses separately.

Chelates
Paramagnetic metal ions suitable as MR contrast agents are all potentially toxic when injected
IV at or near doses needed for clinical imaging. With chelation of these ions, acute toxicity is
reduced and elimination rate is increased thereby reducing the chance of long term toxicity.

Ionics
Chelates of paramagnetic ions with EDTA were first used however Gd-EDTA was toxic in
animals. Chelates with a higher stability constant have since been used successfully. Gd-DTPA
Gd-DTPA was the first intravenous MR contrast agent to be approved for human use
(Magnevist, Berlex Labs). Gd has a large magnetic moment, exceeded only by Dysprosium(III)
and Holmium(III), explaining its paramagnetic properties at low concentrations. This large
magnetic moment is related to its seven unpaired orbital electrons. Gd-DTPA has similar
pharmacokinetics as iodinated contrast agents. It is distributed in the intravascular and
extracellular fluid spaces, does not cross an intact blood-brain-barrier, and is excreted rapidly by
glomerular filtration.

Nonionics
The development of nonionic contrast agents for MRI has paralleled that for iodinated contrast
materials. Ionic chelates are also hyperosmolar and some of their side effects may be attributed
to this property.
Gadodiamide
Gadodiamide (Omniscan, Winthrop Pharm.) is a nonionic complex with two-fifths of the
osmolality of Gd-DTPA. It has a median lethal dose of 34 mmol/kg resulting in a safety ratio of
2-3 times that of Gd-DOTA, and 3-4 times that of Gd-DTPA. No abnormal serum bilirubin
levels occur, however elevated serum iron levels occurred with an incidence of 8.2% in one
study of 73 patients.The efficacy of this contrast is similar to that of Gd-DTPA.
Gadoteridol
Gadoteridol (Prohance, Squibb) is the third intravenous contrast agent on the market. It is a
low osmolar, nonionic contrast as is Gadodiamide.Indications for use and efficacy are similar to
the other agents.

Intravenous Contrast Agent Safety

The most commonly reported reactions associated with the injection of Gd-DTPA are:
headache (6.5%), injection site coldness (3.6%), injection site pain or burning (2.5%), and
nausea (1.9%). Recent adverse rates for Gd-DTPA are lower than this and comparable to those
of Gadodiamide and Gadoteridol (1.4%-3% for headache, nausea, and dizziness; <1% for the
others). The safety factor or ratio (ratio of the LD50 to the imaging dose) may be used to
assess the relative acute toxicity of contrast agents. The elimination half-life for the Gd containg
contrast agents range from 1.25-1.6 hours.
Gadolinium containing contrast agents usually has no effect on blood chemistries and
hematologic studies except transient elevation of serum iron and bilirubin levels. These
elevations peaked at 4 to 6 hours post injection and returned to baseline values in 24 to 48
hours. The mechanism of these elevations is uncertain but may be related to mild hemolysis. A
10%-11% increase in the activated partial thromboplastin time and thrombin time occurs in
vitro with inhibition of platelet aggregation. The platelet aggregation inhibition is less than that
seen with iodinated ionic contrast material and no bleeding problems are reported clinically.
Deoxygenated sickle erythrocytes align perpendicular to a magnetic field in in vitro studies
raising the possibility of occlusive complications in patients with sickle cell anemia. No clinical
reports of this potential problem are available.
Transient and mild drop blood pressure is reported in both animals and humans. A study of
1,068 patients reports hypotension in 0.3% of the subjects and other symptoms such as syncope
probably associated with hypotension in 0.8%.33 Most of these symptoms occur 25-85 minutes
after the injection.
Reports of several episodes of severe anaphylactoid reactions after IV injection of Gd- DTPA
are published. The frequency of these reactions is about 1 in 100,000 doses. Potential risk
factors may include a history of asthma and significant reaction to previously administered
iodinated contrast material. It is suggested that the threshold for injecting Gd be raised, in those
patients, based on an individual risk/benefit ratio. Prophylactic pharmacotherapy with
antihistamines and corticosteriods, such as Greenbergers protocol, is suggested for high risk
patients prior to contrast injections.
 Intravascular (blood pool) Contrast Agents

Intravascular contrast agents normally remain confined to the intravascular space, compared to
Gd-DTPA which distributes throughout the extracellular fluid space. This is a result of
intravascular agents having a molecular weight of approximately 70,000 and above, compared
to a molecular weight of 590 for Gd-DTPA. There are several advantages of intravascular
agents. They can assess perfusion in areas of ischemia and provide information about capillary
permeability in areas of reperfusion. They can show the extent of tumor neovascularity and
associated permeability changes. Finally, they are useful in studies requiring prolonged imaging.
Three types of intravascular contrast agents will be described: Gd-DTPA labeled albumin,
Gd-DTPA labeled dextran, and chromium-labeled red blood cells.
Gd-Labeled Albumin
Gd-Labeled Dextran
Chromium-Labeled Red Blood Cells

Gd-Labeled Albumin

Gd-DTPA is covalently bonded to albumin in ratios from 16:1 to 31:1 providing excellent
enhancement of liver, spleen, myocardium, brain, and slow moving blood of rats and rabbits.
The albumin has a molecular weight of about 92,000 and a biological half-life of 88 minutes.
The dose of Gd-DTPA required when bound to albumin is 0.062 mmol/kg compared to usual
doses of the chelate alone of 0.1-0.2 mmol/kg. No adverse reactions are reported, but in vivo
retention of the gadolinium for several weeks in liver and bone raises concerns of long term
toxicity.

Gd-Labeled Dextran

Dextran is a polysaccharide consisting of a polymer of glucose molecules with a molecular

weight between 75,000-100,000. Dextran has a high level of safety and is broken down more
rapidly than albumin. Approximately 15 Gd-DTPA molecules are attached to each dextran
molecule with an easily hydrolyzable bond. It is hoped that this will reduce the long term in vivo
retention seen with Gd-labeled albumin. The trade off is a shorter biological half-life of 43
minutes. In a rat model, satisfactory enhancement of liver, spleen, kidneys, myocardium, and
brain is seen for up to 1 hour. The dose of dextran Gd-DTPA in these studies was 0.01-0.05
mmol/kg. Elimination and toxicity studies are underway.
 Chromium-Labeled Red Blood Cells

The use of 51Cr-labeled RBC's in nuclear medicine suggested the use of paramagnetic
Cr(III)-labeled RBC's as an intravascular contrast agent for MRI. In dogs, significant
enhancement of the liver and spleen is noted with minimal enhancement of the kidneys. The
blood volume to be replaced with labeled RBC's in these studies corresponding to about one
unit in humans. The survival half-life of labeled cells is 4.7 days compared to 16.6 days for
unlabeled cells. Free Cr may contribute to the enhanced relaxation rates of the liver and spleen.
Short term toxicity appears to be low, but further studies are necessary.

Tumor-specific Agents

Tumor specific agents are pharmaceuticals that are targeted to tumors, either specifically or
nonspecifically. Monoclonal antibodies are targeted to specific tumors such as adenocarcinoma
of the colon. Metalloporphyrins exhibit affinity for many tumor types including carcinoma,
sarcoma, neuroblastoma, melanoma and lymphoma.
Monoclonal Antibodies
Metalloporphyrins
Nitroxides
Ferrioxamine

Monoclonal Antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies (McAb) are used successfully in nuclear medicine for localization of
tumors but an initial attempt at extending this use to MRI with paramagnetic (Gd3+) labeled
antibodies was unsuccessful because of the estimated 800-fold lesser sensitivity of MRI. This
problem can be addressed in several ways: 1) increasing the number of paramagnetic ions
attached to the McAb; 2) attaching several paramagnetic ions to a macromolecule that in turn is
attached to a McAb; 3) using more antibodies or those with an affinity to many antigenic sites
per cell or both; and 4) using a superparamagnetic particle attached to the McAb. Implanted
human colon carcinoma tumors in mice have been successfully imaged by using monoclonal
antibodies with a large number of Gd-DTPA molecules attached.

Additional studies report the use of very small magnetite particles coated with McAb. The
magnetite cores are 10-20 nm in diameter with a total particle diameter of 20-32 nm. The
magnetic moment of these superparamagnetic particles is about 1000 times that of comparable
paramagnetic particles. This allows the use of 1-10 nmol concentrations of the McAb coated
magnetite particles. Mixed success has been obtained in rodents with implanted neuroblastoma
and human colon carcinoma.
 Metalloporphyrins

The metalloporphyrin most commonly used as a MRI contrast agent is Mn(III)TPPS4

(manganese(III) tetra-[4- sulfanatophenyl] porphyrin) because of its low toxicity (compared to
Fe(III)TPPS4 for example). A safety ratio of about 6:1 is estimated in mice. This material
appears to work best with tumors that are isointense to surrounding structures on T1-weighted
sequences. Incidentally, the fluorescent and tumor localizing characteristics of porphyrin
derivatives have been exploited in phototherapy of tumors.

Nitroxides

Nitroxide stable free radicals or nitroxyl spin labels as they may be called, are chemically stable
organic compounds that have an unpaired electron that results in paramagnetic properties. They
generally consist of a six- member ring piperidine derivative or a five-member ring pyrroxamide
derivative. The pharmacokinetics of nitroxides are similar to iodinated contrast agents and Gd-
DTPA. They do not cross an intact blood brain barrier and undergo glomerular filtration as a
dominant route of elimination. Their ease of conjugation to various biomolecules makes them
attractive for targeting to various organ systems. Nitroxides are chemically stable and show
limited in vivo metabolism. Their relaxation effects in vivo can be eliminated almost
immediately by IV injection of sodium ascorbate, a strong reducing agent. This will allow an
unenhanced MR study to be performed immediately after a contrast enhanced study, if the
contrast study is not satisfactory alone.

The early ionic derivatives of piperidine have a 38 minute half-life and a safety ratio of between
8:1 and 100:1. Nonionic pyrrolidine derivatives are formulated with a longer half-life of 45-50
minute in dogs, estimated to be about 2 hours in humans. The LD50 in mice of this nonionic
formulation is about 25 mmol/kg, making it twice as safe as earlier ionic piperidinyl
preparations. Mutation and toxicity studies show no evidence of genetic or other cellular
damage in mammalian cell preparations.

Larger molecular weight nitroxides exhibit increased relaxation rates as do paramagnetic ions
attached to macromolecules. This phenomenon occurs when attaching five-membered nitroxide
rings to fatty acids. The fatty acids attach to human serum albumin, either in vitro or in vivo,
resulting in a significant increase in relaxation rate. Safety studies and clinical trials need to be
performed before nitroxides will be available for use.

Ferrioxamine
Ferrioxamine methanesulfonate is a paramagnetic contrast agent that has undergone phase I and
phase II clinical trials for use as an IV and retrograde contrast agent for the kidneys, ureters and
bladder. It is more stable than Gd-DTPA, though its relaxivity is somewhat less, as expected
from it having 5 unpaired electrons, vs 7 unpaired electrons for Gd-DTPA. 80% is eliminated
by renal excretion and 20% by hepatic excretion. Ferrioxamine undergoes renal excretion by
glomerular filtration but is actively reabsorbed in the tubules. This results in a longer plasma
half-life than Gd-DTPA (128 min. vs 20 min. in rats).

In clinical imaging the long plasma half-life allows enhancement of the kidneys for 60 minutes
with little change in intensity. Significant improvement in detectability of lesions in the kidneys
is demonstrated over unenhanced controls. Side effects include epigastric distress and transient
burning at the injection site. Increase in serum iron levels and a transient elevation of serum
liver enzymes (SGOT/SGPT) have been reported.

Hepatobiliary Contrast Agents

Hepatobiliary contrast agents are desirable for several reasons: to detect mass lesions such as
metastases within the liver; to evaluate functional status of the liver in diffuse hepatocellular
diseases such as cirrhosis; and to obtain high resolution images of the gallbladder and biliary
tree.

Three advantages of a hepatobiliary contrast agent over a particulate agent targeted for Kupffer
cells exist. First of all, there are many more hepatocytes than Kupffer cells (78% vs. 2% by
volume) in the liver, improving uptake efficiency of contrast material. Second, the biliary ducts
are opacified by excreted contrast material, eliminating confusion of normal bile ducts from
focal abnormalities as may occur with particulate agent contrast materials. Third, the contrast
agent is rapidly excreted from the body reducing potential toxicity. In contrast, materials
phagocytized by the reticuloendothelial system (including Kupffer cells) remain in the body for
a long period of time.

The uptake and excretion of contrast material allows visual assessment of basic hepatocyte
function. The biliary opacification will allow functional information to be obtained as with
radionuclide hepatobiliary studies but with significantly higher spatial resolution.

Manganese Chloride
Chelates

Manganese Chloride

Manganese chloride (MnCl2) is a prototype hepatobiliary contrast agent. IV and oral

administration in animals results in a rapid decrease in the T1 relaxation time of the liver,
spleen, kidneys, heart, and bile causing a bright signal on T1-weighted images. In its ionic state,
Mn+2, it is relatively toxic. In imaging doses of 0.2 mmol/kg, it caused severe hypotension and
ventricular fibrillation in dogs. Cerebral damage results from chronic manganese toxicity. Mn
can be used in the form of a chelate with diminished toxicity for hepatobiliary imaging in
humans.

Hepatobiliary Chelates

Chelates used as hepatobiliary contrast agents consist of a paramagnetic ion bound to an

organic ligand, forming a complex that shows affinity for hepatocytes. This type of complex is
desirable to increase uptake of the contrast agent by the hepatocytes and to reduce toxicity of
the paramagnetic metal ion as is done with gadolinium. Possible chelates for hepatobiliary
imaging include Fe-EHPG and derivatives, Gd-HIDA, Cr-HIDA, B-19036, and Mn-DPDP.

Fe-EHPG (Iron(III) ethylenebis-(2-hydroxyphenylglycine)) is a structural analog of the

radionuclide 99mTc- iminodiacetate (Tc-IDA) used for hepatobiliary imaging in nuclear
medicine. Fe-EHPG is a very stable complex over a large pH range making it likely to be
nontoxic. Fe-EHPG has been shown to improve visualization of small and medium-sized,
blood-borne liver metastases in mice. To my knowledge no clinical studies with this material
have been performed.

Chromium diethyl HIDA meglumine (Cr-HIDA) is another analog of a hepatobiliary

radiopharmaceutical that has been tested in rats and rabbits. Excretion was 45%-77% after one
hour. The dose required to give significant increased signal in the liver (0.25 mmol/kg) results
in a safety ratio in mice of 6:1, compared to 100:1 for Gadolinium-DTPA. This low ratio for
Cr-HIDA precludes clinical use.

An octadentate chelate of gadolinium coded B-19036 (Bracco Industria Chimica S.p.A., Milan,
Italy) may be used as a hepatobiliary contrast agent. It is a highly stable complex with an LD50
in mice comparable to Gd-DTPA. It has yet to be tested in humans.

Manganese(II)-dipyridoxal diphosphate (Mn-DPDP) is a manganese chelate derived from

vitamin B6, pyridoxal-5- phosphate. It shows efficacy in detecting small liver metastases in
rabbits and has undergone phase I clinical trials showing it to be safe and effective in enhancing
the signal intensity of the liver. It has a safety ratio of 200:1 in rats which is somewhat better
than that for Gd-DTPA. Unlike Fe-EHPG and its derivatives whose uptake by hepatocytes
depend on their lipophilic attraction to the cell membrane, Mn-DPDP is recognized by a vitamin
B6 transport system in the cell membrane.

Reticuloendothelial Contrast Agents

The use of reticuloendothelial agents will be discussed in terms of liver and spleen imaging and
lymph node imaging.

Liver and Spleen Imaging

Lymph Node Imaging
 Liver and Spleen Imaging

The use of Gd-DTPA with routine imaging sequences of the liver is unsatisfactory. Particulate
contrast agents targeted to the reticuloendothelial system (RES) of the liver and spleen, achieve
the goals of improved detection and localization in the liver. This is analogous to the use of
99mTc-sulfur colloid in nuclear liver scans.

Two major cell types can be targeted for hepatic imaging. Hepatocytes comprise about 78% of
the liver by volume, and Kupffer cells of the reticuloendothelial system comprise about 2% by
volume. Originally, particulate contrast agents were targeted for the RES but recently
ultra-small particles have been used that bind to a specific receptor site on the hepatocyte cell
membrane.

Gadolinium Oxide
Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide
Liposomes

Gadolinium Oxide
Gadolinium oxide is a the prototype particulate contrast agent. This material accumulates in the
liver and spleen of rabbits in both Kupffer cells and in the sinusoidal vascular spaces and
effectively increases T1 and T2 relaxation as desired. The safety ratio (LD50/Imaging dose) is
only about 7:1 raising concerns of acute and chronic toxicity. It is therefore precluded from
clinical use.

Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide

As with its use as an oral contrast agent, superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) causes marked
shortening T2 relaxation time resulting in a loss of signal in the liver and spleen with all
commonly used pulse sequences. The most common form of iron oxide used is magnetite,
which is a mixture of Fe2O3 and FeO. A mixture using Fe3O4 instead of FeO may also be used.
Three mechanisms have been postulated to explain the relaxation enhancement of SPIO.

SPIO particles for parenteral use are coated with various substances to facilitate uptake by the
reticuloendothelial system. These coatings have included albumin, a hydrophilic polymer,
starch, and dextran.

The following problems that can arise with detecting small lesions in the liver using SPIO: 1)
Small lesions may be indistinguishable from the flow void in small blood vessels seen in
cross-section; 2) Aortic pulsation artifacts are more noticeable; and 3) the one hour delay
between injection and imaging make it impractical to decide at the last minute to give contrast.

Liposomes
A liposome is a spherical vesical consisting of one or more bilayer phospholipid membranes or
lamella. Liposomes for hepatic imaging range in size from about 20 nm to 400 nm diameter.
Reasons to use liposomes as a carrier for paramagnetic contrast materials include: 1) changing
the interaction between water molecules and the contrast agent; 2) changing the rate of removal
of the contrast agent from the blood pool; and 3) targeting specific organ systems, e.g., liver,
spleen, and bone marrow. Paramagnetic materials can be incorporated into either the aqueous
inner chamber or the bilayer membrane. Encapsulation of superparamagnetic iron oxide
particles into liposomes (Ferrosomes) has been reported. Both Gd-DTPA and MnCl2 can be
encapsulated into the aqueous inner chamber of liposomes.

Liposomes are taken up only by the Kupffer cells. Once in the Kupffer cells, Mn+2 or
Gd-DTPA is slowly released and diffuses into adjacent hepatocytes, resulting in enhancement of
normal liver but not malignancies.

Stable nitroxide free radicals have been attached to phospatidylcholine, a common constituent
of liposome lamellae. They may also be attached to derivatives of the fatty acid, stearic acid, as
have the DTPA chelates of Mn and Gd. This results in a lipophilic side chain that allows
incorporation into the liposome membrane.

Lymph Node Imaging

Two clinical problems common to CT and MR imaging are: 1) distinguishing unenlarged

metastatic lymph nodes from normal lymph nodes; and 2) differentiating enlarged metastatic
nodes from benign hyperplastic nodes. Differentiation of metastases from fibrosis, lipomatosis
and cysts is possible with resected lymph nodes in a 4.7T magnet using voxels of size 0.1 by 0.1
by 1.0 mm; however, gradient strength and switching capabilities are not adequate in clinical
imagers to obtain the necessary spacial resolution. This inadequacy of clinical imagers is
circumvented by the use of USPIO.

USPIO particles with a mean diameter of 80 nm may be injected into the interstitium of the foot
pad of rats. After a suitable delay, marked loss of signal of normal lymph nodes is seen.
Metastatic nodes show less uptake resulting in less decrease in signal, allowing differentiation of
normal-sized, metastatic nodes from uninvolved, normal nodes. From experience with
conventional lymphangiography, this route of injection is unlikely to opacify all the abdominal
lymph nodes.

USPIO particles, with a median diameter less than 10 nm, will localize in lymph nodes
following an IV injection. This material does not undergo uptake by the RE system as rapidly as
larger particles, resulting in a longer plasma half-life in rats (81 minutes, vs 6 minutes). This
factor and its small size allow transcapillary passage either into the interstitium and then to the
lymph nodes or directly into the lymph nodes. In the rat model, IV injection of USPIO allows
differentiation of normal lymph nodes from normal size metastatic nodes based on differences in
signal characteristics. MR microscopy of excised lymph nodes, performed at 9.4T shows the
USPIO to be associated with macrophages in the medullary sinuses.

MR Angiography
Time-of-flight angiography and phase-contrast angiography are the two common MR
angiography techniques. Flow related enhancement is the basis of time-of-flight angiography.
Flow-related Enhancement
Time-of-flight MR angiography
Phase contrast MR angiography

Flow-related Enhancement

Flow-related enhancement is an enhancement of flowing blood seen on gradient echo pulse

sequences as well as in entry slices of multslice spin echo sequences. This enhancement is a
result of inflow of unsaturated (completely relaxed) spins into a slice plane or imaging volume
between RF excitations. Stationary spins within the imaging volume will undergo incomplete
T1 relaxation between RF excitations resulting in less signal following the next RF pulse when
compared to inflowing, completely relaxed spins in flowing blood. The distance that the
unsaturated blood can extend into an imaging volume and therefore the degree of enhancement
is proportional to the TR and the velocity of the blood. The use of gradient motion nulling
(flow compensation) improves the flow-related enhancement in gradient echo sequences.

Time-of-Flight MR Angiography

Time-of-flight (TOF) angiography is based on the phenomenon of flow-related enhancement of

spins entering into an imaging slice. As a result of being unsaturated, these spins give more
signal that surrounding stationary spins. With 2-D TOF, multiple thin imaging slices are
acquired with a flow-compensated gradient-echo sequence. These images can be combined by
using a technique of reconstruction such as maximum intensity projection (MIP), to obtain a
3-D image of the vessels analogous to conventional angiography.

With 3-D TOF, a volume of images is obtained simultaneously by phase-encoding in the

slice-select direction. An angiographic appearance can be generated using MIP, as is done with
2-D TOF. Several 3-D TOF volumes can be combined to visualize longer segments of vessels.
3-D TOF angiography will allow greater spatial resolution in the slice-select direction than 2-D
TOF; however, with thick volumes and slow flowing blood, loss of signal is seen with the 3-D
TOF method.
 Phase-contrast MR Angiography

Spins that are moving in the same direction as a magnetic field gradient develop a phase shift
that is proportional to the velocity of the spins. This is the basis of phase-contrast angiography.
In the simplest phase-contrast pulse sequence, bipolar gradients (two gradients with equal
magnitude but opposite direction) are used to encode the velocity of the spins. Stationary spins
undergo no net change in phase after the two gradients are applied. Moving spins will
experience a different magnitude of the second gradient compared to the first, because of its
different spatial position. This results in a net phase shift. This information can be used directly
to determine the velocity of the spins. Alternatively, the image can be subtracted from one
acquired without the velocity encoding gradients to obtain an angiogram.

MR Spectroscopy

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of intact biological tissues was first reported by two
groups: Moon and Richards using P-31 MRS to examine intact red blood cells in 1973, and
Hoult et al. using P-31 MRS to examine excised leg muscle from the rat in 1974. Since then
MRS has been applied to almost every organ of the body including brain, heart, liver, kidney,
prostate, and extremities. MRS is useful for looking at disorders of metabolism, tumors and
certain inflammatory and ischemic diseases. Most of the work with in vivo MRS in humans has
been in the brain. Abnormalities have been seen, sometimes with earlier detection than for any
other diagnostic procedure short of biopsy, in primary brain tumors, infections such as AIDS,
demyelinating disorders such as multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and stroke.
Spectroscopic changes are documented in a variety of enzyme deficiencies, mitochondrial
abnormalities, dystrophies, inflammatory myopathies, and thyroid disease. In muscle these
diseases include phosphofructokinase deficiency, amyloglucosidase deficiency, Duchenne
muscular dystrophy, Becker muscular dystrophy, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, inclusion body
myositis, hypothyroidism, and congestive heart failure.

How does MRS work?

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is performed with a variety of pulse sequences. The
simplest sequence consists of a 90 degree RF pulse without any gradients with reception of the
signal by the RF coil immediately after the single RF pulse. Many sequences used for imaging
can be used for spectroscopy also (such as the spin echo sequence). The important difference
between an imaging sequence and a spectroscopy sequence is that for spectroscopy, a read out
gradient is not used during the time the RF coil is receiving the signal from the person or object
being examined. Instead of using the frequency information (provided by the read out or
frequency gradient) to provide spatial or positional information, the frequency information is
used to identify different chemical compounds. This is possible because the electron cloud
surrounding different chemical compounds shields the resonant atoms of spectroscopic interest
to varying degrees depending on the specific compound and the specific position in the
compound. This electron shielding causes the observed resonance frequency of the atoms to
slightly different and therefore identifiable with MRS.

Special Topics

Recent developments in MRI that should have significant contributions to MRI include the
following:
Magnetization Transfer Contrast
Functional MRI

Magnetization Transfer

Contrast
Magnetization transfer techniques use an off resonance RF pulse to saturate protons in
macromolecules and water molecules that are bound to macromolecules and are normally not
visible due to their very short T2* relaxation times (See Figure). During the pulse sequence, the
saturated protons may enter the free pool of protons, primarily water, or may transfer their
magnetization to free water protons. The effect of this is to cause a decrease in the MR visible
signal in areas of macromolecules effected by magnetization transfer. This provides an
additional source of tissue contrast for imaging, particularly of the brain. One use of
magnetization transfer is to reduce the signal from brain tissue during MR angiography, thereby
improving vessel delineation. Areas of demyelinaton on T2-weighted images and areas on
enhancement with gadolinium contrast agents on T1-weighted images way be more visible with
magnetization transfer techniques.

Functional MRI

Functional MRI (FMRI) is a technique that has recently been introduced to obtain functional
information from the central nervous system. FMRI detects subtle increases in blood flow
associated with activation of parts of the brain. FMRI may be useful for preoperative
neurosurgical planning, epilepsy evaluation, and "mapping" of the brain.
How does FMRI work?
Activation of an area of the brain causes an increase in blood flow to that area that is greater
than that needed to keep up with the oxygen demands of the tissues. This results in a net
increase in intravascular oxyhemogobin and a decrease in deoxyhemoglobin. Deoxyhemoglobin
is paramagnetic, resulting in shorting of the T2* of the brain and decrease in signal. Less
deoxyhemoglobin as a result of increase in blood flow results in an overall increase in signal.
Sophisticated image processing techniques are used to obtain images of these flow changes.
The increase in signal detected ranges from 1-5% on a 1.5T MR system.

Glossary
This is a list of some of the commonly used terms in MRI.

A-E
F-J
K-O
P-T
U-Z

A-E

Adiabatic RF Pulses

Adiabatic pulses are special RF pulses used when the RF field is inhomogeneous, as one might
see with using a surface coil rather than a volume coil for excitation of spins. The flip angles
produced with conventional RF pulses are sensitive to the B1 or RF field homogeneity. The flip
angles produced with adiabatic pulses are relatively insensitive. These special pulses are
produced by sweeping the frequency of an irradiating RF pulse through the Larmor frequency.
Conventional pulses use a constant frequency pulse at the Larmor frequency. The disadvantage
of adiabatic pulses are that they are more difficult to produce and they take more time to
produce the desired flip angle.

Annotation

The description of the imaging factors used during an imaging acquisition, commonly printed
around the border of MR images. These factors may include repetition time, echo time, number
of averages, field of view, acquisition matrix size, and slice thickness.

Array processor

An array processor is a common accessory to the computer system of an MRI machine. It

functions to speed up numeric calculations, such as the Fourier transformation used to
reconstruct images and spectra.

B1

B1 is the symbol used to represent the radio frequency field of the MRI system. The B1 field is
produced by the RF coil at the Larmor frequency.
Bloch equations

The bloch equations are used in the classical physics description of the behavior of the
macroscopic magnetization vectors.

Bo

Bo (B zero) is the symbol used to represent the constant (main) magnetic field of the MRI
system. It is usually expressed in units of Tesla (10,000 gauss or about 20,000 times the
magnetic field of the earth).

Dewar

An insulated container for holding liquified gases, i.e., cryogens. May also be called a cryostat.

Didjeridoo

A musical instrument invented by the aborigines of Australia. It is constructed from a hollowed

out log and makes a single tone.

F-J

FID

Free induction decay. This is the sinusoidal signal generated by spins in the x-y plane that
decays exponentially with time.

Faraday Shield

An electrical conductor such as a copper mesh or an aluminum sheet that is used to block out
electric fields. Most MRI rooms are surrounded by a Faraday shield to keep radio waves from
coming into the room, and MR radio waves from leaving the room.

Fourier Transform (FT)

A mathematical procedure used in MR that converts a time-domain signal into a frequency- or

spatial-domain signal or image. It is analogous to the way that our ear distinguishes or separates
out separate sounds or frequencies from noise we hear. Our eyes do not work this way. If we
see a mixture of blue and yellow we see the color green, not the original blue and yellow.

Gradient Amplifier

A gradient amplifier supplies power to a set of gradient coils, providing the variation in
magnetic field strength required to obtain images and perform localization. MRI systems
therefore require three gradient amplifiers, one for each set of gradient coils: x, y, and z.
Gradient amplifier may use large amount of power and frequently require cooling with chilled
water or forced air flow.

K-O

K-space

K-space is an imaginary space whose coordinates are in terms of phase and frequency for
conventional imaging and in terms of phase in 2 or 3 dimensions for 2-D and 3-D chemical shift
imaging. The K-space matrix is to obtain the familiar spatial dimensions.

Larmor frequency

The Larmor frequency is the frequency or rate of precession of the nuclear magnetic moment
(spins) and is proportional to the magnetic field strength as shown in the Larmor equation: f=
-gBo/2pi where f is the Larmor frequency in Hertz, g is the gyromagnetic ratio of the nucleus,
and Bo is the magnetic field strength.

P-T

Phantom

A phantom is an object of known size and composition (such as a bottle of saline) that is used
to test the functioning of an MRI machine.

Pixel

An abbreviation for "picture element"; the rectangles or squares that make up a digital image in
MRI, CT, digital fluoroscopy and radiography.

Quench

Unexpected loss of superconductivity in a superconducting magnet that causes heating and very
rapid vaporization of the cryogens such as liquid helium. This can cause damage to the magnet
and can force the atmosphere out of the scanner room potentially causing anoxic conditions.

RF Transmitter

The RF transmitter in an MRI scanner is a mini radio station that include an amplifier and
tuning circuits that supply radio frequency power to the RF coil inside the magnet. RF
transmitters in whole body imagers are commonly rated at about 20kW; comparable in power
to an actual radio station.

Spin density

The density of resonating spins, e.g. protons, in a region of interest. "Proton density" spin echo
images come close to imaging the spin density.

Superconductor

A substance, usually a metal alloy, whose electrical resistance abruptly drops to zero at low
temperatures. MRI magnets commonly use titanium-niobium wires imbedded in a larger copper
wire that is cooled with liquid helium to about 4 degrees absolute. The copper acts to conduct
away heat in case a occurs and also acts as an insulator at superconducting temperatures.

U-Z

Unicorn

A mythical creature that looks like a horse with a single horn on it's forehead.
Vector

A vector is a quantity having both magnitude and direction, that is frequently represented with
an arrow.

Voxel

An abbreviation for volume element; a three dimensional rectangular solid contributing signal to
the intensity of a in an image.

References
These references are not intended to be an exhaustive list but to give a few commonly available
texts and articles that cover the subjects. The areas that each reference cover are included in
parentheses after the reference.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging by Stark and Bradley, second edition (Artifacts, Basics,
Contrast Agents, Instrumentation, Pulse Sequences, Spectroscopy).
Magnetic resonance imaging artifacts: Mechanism and clinical significance by Pusey et al.
RadioGraphics, September, 1986 (Artifacts).
Clinical Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy by Andrew et al. (Basics,
Spectroscopy).
The Essential Physics of Medical Imaging by Bushberg et al. (Basics).
Christensen's Physics of Diagnostic Radiology, fourth edition (Basics).
Abdominal Magnetic Resonance Imaging by Ros and Bidgood (Contrast Agents,
Instrumentation and RF Coils).
Fast-Scan Magnetic Resonance Principles and Applications by Felix Wehrli (Pulse
Sequences).
Safety Considerations in MR Imaging by Kanal et al. Radiology 176:593-606, 1990
(Safety).
Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging of human brain activity during primary sensory
stimulation by Kwong et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, June 1992 (Functional Brain
Imaging).
Questions and Answers in Magnetic Resonance Imaging by Elster (Artifacts, Basics,
Magnetization Transfer, Safety).

Copyright © 1994-1998 Ray Ballinger, All Rights Reserved.

Send questions and comments to Ray Ballinger at mridoc@ ufl.edu
URL: http://ballingerr.xray.ufl.edu/mritutor/index.html
Last Modified: September 22, 1998