Spectrum of Metabolites

Whole¹ H MR spectrum of human brain tissue obtained using a spin-echo sequence (TE = 30 ms, TR = 5000 ms, VOI = 28 ml, 3 T). In the region of aliphatic protons metabolite signals with concentrations higher than 1 mM are well visible and are positioned above broad signal of macromolecules. The water signal is suppressed, nevertheless, the range of approximately 4.3–5.1 ppm is influenced by many artifacts and cannot be used for the inspection of the spectrum. The aromatic part of the spectrum contains signals of compounds with very low concentrations (in normal brains) such as phenylalanine, histidines, histamines, etc.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) is the medical name for NMR Spectroscopy as it applies to medicine.  It is able to detect the biochemical changes that accompany specific diseases.  For the coming posts, the following aspects of MRS that are less frequently discussed but are vital to the production of quality invivo MR spectra will be presented:

1. Spectrum of metabolites
2. Chemical shift (localization) artefacts
3. Lipid contamination
4. Spectral quality & artefacts
5. Quality assurance for clinical MRS

MRI Protocols

• SCMR guidelines for reporting CMR examinations
• Standardized CMR protocols from SCMR
• Adenosine Stress Magnetic Resonance Perfusion
• Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)
• Endometrial & Cervical Carcinoma
• Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
• Breast MRI
• Dural Sinus Thrombosis
• Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/ Cardiomyopathy
• Shoulder MRI
• Elbow MRI
• Hip MRI
• Foot (Midfoot) MRI
• Brachial Plexus MRI
• Musculoskeletal MRI 101 (I/II)
• Blood Pool Agent -- Protocols
• Blood Pool Agent -- Case Studies

Download Page

MRI Safety Documents

• ACR Guidance Document for Safe MR Practices: 2007
• MRI Safety Update 2008: Part 1, MRI Contrast Agents and Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis
• MRI Safety Update 2008: Part 2, Screening Patients for MRI

GBCA & NSF

• Manual on Contrast Media, version 7, 2010, ACR
• European Medicines Agency (EMEA) makes recommendations to minimize risk of NSF with GBCA
• Q&A on the review of GBCA by EMEA

MRI Protocols

• Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance guidelines for reporting cardiovascular magnetic resonance examinations
• Standardized CMR protocols from SCMR
• Endometrial & Cervical Carcinoma
• Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
• Dural Sinus Thrombosis
• Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/ Cardiomyopathy
• Shoulder MRI
• Elbow MRI
• Hip MRI
• Foot (Midfoot) MRI
• Brachial Plexus MRI
• Musculoskeletal MRI 101 (I/II)

Miscellaneous

• MRI Acronym
• CardioMath Equations
• ACR BI-RADS® – MRI (Breast Imaging - Reporting and Data System)
• MRI Safety Quiz for MRI Technologists
• MRI Safey Quiz for Laypersons
• MRI Design Guide by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (April 2008)
• SEGMENT (Medical Image Analysis Software)
• Ziosoft 3D Imaging Solutions
• FiatLux Visualize™ Free (2D/3D DICOM Viewer)

Tips & Tricks

• MR Signal Intensity of Aging Blood
• Hepatic Cavernous Hemangioma
• Off-Resonance Artefact
• T2* measurements of myocardial iron in Thalassemia (Part I)
• T2* measurements of myocardial iron in Thalassemia (Part II)
• Flow measurement in Main Pulmonary Artery
• Planimetry in CMR
• Pressure gradient measurement in CMR
• Signal variations in TI scouting for LGE imaging
• Null point for Late Gadolinium Enhancement
• Quality checks in MR spectroscopy
• MR Urography (CINE display)
• Contrast-enhanced FLAIR for infectious leptomeningitis
• Navigator-gated T2W Abdomen
• Brain MRI - Neonates
  

Useful Links

Websites where you can find tons of useful information on the clinical practice of MRI:

• Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
• International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
• ISMRM - Section for Magnetic Resonance Technologists
• European Society of Cardiology
• MRI Information for Patients
• Institute for Magnetic Resonance Safety, Education and Research
• MRI Safety
• Magnetic Resonance Sites on the World Wide Web
• Musculoskeletal and Orthopedic MRI
• Sumer's Radiology Site
• The ACR Contrast Media Guidelines Version 7
• MRI Teaching FIle
• Blood Pool Agents

Website(s) that get(s) you the most updated information on the current Radiology practice:

• Auntminnie.com

MRI Acronym

Download the MRI Acronym from here.

Understanding MRI

Introduction by Dr Alice Roberts. Medical Research Council. CREDITS: GSK Clinical Imaging Centre, Hammersmith, London. University of Nottingham. Nobel footage courtesy of the BBC.

The following videos provide information about what an MRI is and how it is performed. The videos explain the procedure and provide details about what to expect.

Welcome to my MRI Blog

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I started my career as a technologist in medical imaging in early 80's and have evidenced incredible changes in the field of medical imaging technology throughout these years in Hong Kong. My initial contact with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) dated back to 1995 when I set up the first MRI system in one of the major hospitals in Hong Kong. In 2000, I set off a new MRI service in another local regional hospital. As part of the continuing professional education, I attained my MSc with distinction in Medical Science (MRI) in 2004.

I love learning and transferring knowledge, so I decided to create this blog to share my MRI experience with those interested. I do hope that my writings can contribute in a small way to the MRI community by helping the newcomers to demystify the seemingly intriguing but complicated imaging technology.

Throughout this blog, assorted topics, mostly relating to the clinical applications of MRI will be covered. You will be directed to other websites for the relevant MRI physics through hyperlinks where appropriate. The materials posted will mainly be in keynote presentation format and are self-explanatory. You may click on any framed block of text or image to enlarge if you find the font size or images too small to read. If the MRI blog fails to provide you with the information you are looking for, or if you need further explanations on the entries posted, drop me a note and I'll try my best to help and elaborate.

For now, I would like to thank you for dropping by; and I hope that you will enjoy your time reading here. I appreciate any suggestions for the improvement of the blog. So please do leave your comments while you're here. Questions on MRI are also welcome.

Cheers

limpeter