Physicists Quality Control for

MR Equipment
Geoffrey D. Clarke, Ph.D.
University of Texas Health Science Center at
San Antonio
Radiological Sciences Division

Overview
MRI Standards
MRI Accreditation Program
MRI Quality Control Program
Definitions
Physicists Responsibilities
Technologists Daily & Weekly QC Tasks
Other Tests for the Physicist

Standards & Accreditation

ACR Standard for Performing and Interpreting
MRI (Res. 16-2000)
ACR Standard for Diagnostic Medical Physics
Performance Monitoring of MRI Equipment
(Res. 19-1999)
ACR Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Accreditation Program

ACR Standard for Diagnostic Medical

Physics Performance Monitoring of MRI
Equipment
1999 (Res. 19)
Qualifications
Qualified Medical Physicist
certified
certified in diagnostic radiological physics
continuing
continuing education in MRI physics
Qualified MR Scientist
graduate
graduate degree in physical science
3
3 years documented clinical MR experience
continuing
continuing education in MRI physics

ACR Standard for Diagnostic Medical

Physics Performance Monitoring of MRI
Equipment
1999 (Res. 19)
Responsibilities
Acceptance Testing
Annual Performance Evaluation
Establish Continuous Quality Control Program
set action criteria
review QC program records during annual
survey
Provide written survey reports on timely basis

ACR Standard for Diagnostic Medical

Physics Performance Monitoring of MRI
Equipment
1999 (Res. 19)
Continuous QC Program
Performed by Technologist:
RF
RF calibration for the head coil
Magnetic
Magnetic field gradient calibration
Image
Image SNR & uniformity for the head coil
Processor
Processor sensitometry
Physical
Physical and mechanical inspection
Hard
Hard copy fidelity

ACR Standard for Diagnostic Medical

Physics Performance Monitoring of MRI
1999 (Res. 19)
Equipment
Physicists Annual Equipment Survey:
All of the routine QC tests plus:
Phase stability
Magnetic field homogeneity
Calibration of all radiofrequency coils
Image signal-to-noise ratio & uniformity for
all coils
Inter-slice RF interference
Artifact evaluation

ACR MRI Accreditation Program

Features
Evaluates effectiveness of quality control
measures
Will collect findings to further the development
of quality control information
Qualified Medical Physicist should be
responsible for overseeing the equipment
quality control program

ACR MRI Accreditation Program

MRI Survey Agreement
Official request for ACR Accreditation
Site agrees to provide all
documentation, including but not limited
to quality control logs, films, records, or
any necessary information requested by
the survey team
Agree to use the ACR MRI phantom

ACR MRI Accreditation Program

Quality Control Section
Refers to tests put forth in the ACR
Standard for MRI
All tests to be carried out in accordance
with written procedures and methods
Preventative maintenance:
Documented by qualified service engineer
Repairs documented and records
maintained by the MR site

ACR
Magnetic
Resonance
Imaging
Quality
Control
Manual
2001

ACR Definition of Quality Assurance

All of the management practices instituted to
ensure that:
1. every imaging procedure is necessary and
appropriate to the clinical problem at hand,
2. the images generated contain information
critical to the solution of that problem,
3. the recorded information is correctly interpreted
and made available in a timely fashion to the
patient's physician, and
4. the examination results in the lowest possible
risk, cost, and inconvenience to the patient.

Quality Assurance Policy Manual

responsibilities and procedures for QC
testing
records of the most recent QC tests
a description of the orientation program
procedures for use and maintenance of
equipment;
MRI techniques to be used
precautions to protect the patient
proper maintenance of records, including
records of testing, equipment service and QA
meetings
procedures for cleaning and disinfection

ACR Definition of Quality Control

Part of quality assurance: a series of
distinct technical procedures that ensure
the production of high-quality diagnostic
images.
1. Acceptance testing
2. Establishment of baseline performance
3. Detection of changes in equipment
performance
4. Verification that equipment performance faults
have been corrected.

Radiologists Responsibilities
Eleven specific responsibilities including:

To ensure that an effective quality control program

exists for all MRI
To select the technologist to be the primary quality
control technologist
To ensure that appropriate test equipment and
materials are available to perform the technologist's
QC tests.
To arrange staffing and scheduling so that quality
control tests can be carried out.
To select a qualified medical physicist or MRI
scientist To ensure that records are properly
maintained and updated in the MRI QC procedures
manual.

Responsibilities of the
Qualified Medical Physicist
or MRI Scientist
Write Purchase Specifications
Perform Acceptance Testing
Baseline Measurements

Determine Action Limits

Set up Daily/Weekly QC Tests
MRI equipment performance review

MRI QC Technologists
Responsibilities
Daily magnetic resonance image
quality control procedures
Weekly quality control of hard copy
and soft copy Images
Routine visual inspection of equipment

Technologist Responsibilities
Designated QC Technologist(s)
QC Notebook
QC policies and procedures
data forms where QC procedure results are
recorded
notes on QC problems and corrective actions

Review QC Data with QA Committee

Only Use Alternative Phantoms & Procedures
when documented by physicist
Follow Established Action Limits

Technologists Tests

Center frequency
Table positioning
Setup & Scanning
Geometric accuracy
High contrast resolution
Low contrast detectability
Artifact analysis
Film quality control
Visual Checklist

Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Weekly
Weekly

*ACR MRI QC Manual, Table 1 (p.25)

Documenting the
Quality Control Program
Data form for daily equipment quality
control
ACR MRI QC manual, pg. 64

MRI Facility quality control visual

checklist
ACR MRI QC manual, pg. 65

Laser film printer control chart

ACR MRI QC manual, pg. 66

Annual Survey Tests

Magnetic Field Homogeneity

Slice Position Accuracy
Slice Thickness Accuracy
Radio Frequency Coil Checks
Volume coils
1. Signal-to-noise ratio
2. Percent integral uniformity
3. Percent signal ghosting

Surface Coils SNR Tests

Inter-Slice RF Interference
Soft Copy Displays (monitors)

Magnetic Field Homogeneity

Ideal Homogeneity Good Homogeneity Poor Homogeneity

FWHM

FWHM

oo

Denotes a totally
uniform magnetic
field.
All signal is at
resonant
frequency, o.
o.

oo

oo

Fourier transform of
signal produces a
Lorentzian peak in
well-shimmed
magnet

Magnet firld
homogenity can be
characterized using
FWHM of resonance
peak

Magnetic Field Homogeneity

Phase images from
GRE sequences
with 10ms difference
in TEs

Phase and Unwrapped

Phase Images

Magnetic Field Homogeneity

Overall, the phase mapping technique provides the best
mechanism for evaluating field homogeneity.
Phase-maps in several planes can be obtained to
determine the spherical harmonic coefficients and allows
a means of shimming the magnet.
For some system service personnel may have to provide
use of phase-mapping acquisition and analysis tools.
Filmed copy of vendors final homogeneity map and shim
coefficients is useful for documentation and establishing
a baseline.

Slice Position Accuracy

Uses Crossed-Wedges as Reference for
Positioning and Slice Spacing Accuracy
MRAP pass criterion: magnitude of bar
length difference 5 mm.
The actual displacement is of the
measured difference
ACR Accreditation criteria are very weak,
physicist may want to hold manufacturer to a
higher standard

Slice Position Accuracy

Slice Position

SLICE #1

Slice Spacing

SLICE #11

Crossed wedges should be of equal length

if position and spacing are accurate

Slice Position Accuracy

Causes of poor performance:
Operator error
Table positioning shift
Miscalibrated gradients
High Bo inhomogeneities

MRI Slice Thickness

Signal ramps have a slope of 10:1
Signal from ramp is 10 x slice thickness
Two ramps are used to compensate for
in-plane rotation of the phantom
Phantom does not compensate for
tilting backwards or swaying left-right

Slice Thickness Measurement

1. Use slice 1 of ACR T1.
2. Magnify by 2 to 4. Adjust window/level
to see signal ramps. (Set window at
minimum.)
3. Use rectangular ROI to measure mean
of middle of each signal ramp. Take
average.

Slice Thickness
4. Lower display to
one/half the
average.
5. Measure lengths of
top and bottom
ramps and
calculate slice
thickness.

(
top bottom )
Slice Thickness = 0.2
(top + bottom )

Slice Thickness
ACR-MRAP: slice thickness measured should
be + 0.7 mm of prescribed value

+ 14% error on 5mm slice, may be too generous

Corrective actions:
Check Axial Site Series Images
Replace cables & connectors, look for other sources
of distorted RF pulse shape in RF electronics
Try switching RF coils
Check gradient calibration

MRI Equipment Performance Evaluation

Site &
Equipment
Data

Site: _____________________________
MRAP Number: ____________________

Date: ________
Serial Number: ___________

Equipment:
MRI System Manuafacturer: _________________ Model : ________
Processor Manufacturer:

_________________ Model: _________

PACS Manufacturer:

_________________ Model: _________

ACR MRAP Phantom Number used: _________

1. Magnetic Field Homogeneity

Bo
Homogeneity

Method Used (check one): Spectral Peak ___ Phase Difference ___
Other (describe) __________________________
Measured Homogeneity:

Diameter of Spherical
Volume (cm)

Homogeneity
(ppm)

________
________
________

Slice Position
Accuracy

_______
_______
_______

2. Slice Position Accuracy

From Slice Positionss #1 and #11 of the ACR Phantom:
-

Slice Thickness
Accuracy

Wedge (mm)

=-

=+

Slice Location #1

________

Slice Location #11

________

=+

3. Slice Thickness Accuracy

From Slice Position #1 of the ACR Phantom:
Slice Thickness

Top

______

(fwhm in mm)

Calculated slice
Thickness (mm) ______

Bottom

______

Duplicate these forms so they will be available for repeated use.

Bird-Cage Head Coil

RF coils produce uniformity patterns characteristic of

their design.

Uniformity Pattern

Birdcage Coil
High Field

Solenoid Coil
Low Field

Volume RF Coil Measurements

ACR
Phantom
Slice #7

Image Intensity Uniformity

Performance criteria: PIU 90%
(high low)
percent integral uniformity = 100 1

(high + low)

Measurement Considerations:
Display may not show signal values
Display may not allow user to set signal display
level
There may not be a well-defined high/low
intensity level

Image Intensity Uniformity

Causes of failure:
Poor phantom centering in head
coil (usually AP)
Ghosting
Motion or vibration
Mechanical failure in head coil

Phased- Array Coils

The signal is viewed from more angles
Using four channels does not produce 4 * S/N

Abdomen-pelvis
phased-array

Torso
Phased Array

Cervical-Cranial Phased Array

Surface RF Coil Measurements

Volume Coil Data

% Image Uniformity

Max Signal
Min Signal

Signal-to-Noise

Mean Signal
SD of Background Signal

Percent Signal
Ghosting

Ghost Signal
Mean Signal
Background Signal

Surface Coil Data

Maximum Signal-toNoise

Maximum signal
SD of Background Signal

4. RF Coil Performance Evaluation

A. VOLUME RF COIL RF Coil Description: __________________________ Date: ____________
Phantom Description: ___________________________________________

Volume Coil

Pulse Sequence:
degrees

Type: ____
2

FOV: _____ cm

Data Recorded

TR: _____

TE: ______

flip angle _____

Matrix: ___________ BW: _________kHz ; NSA ___

Slice thickness ______mm; spacing _______ mm
TX attenuation (or gain) __________

Data Collected:
Mean
Signal

Maximum
Signal

Minimum
Signal

Background
Signal

Calculated Values:
Uniformity
SNR
Ghosting

Noise
Standard
Deviation

Ghost
Signal

Calculated Values:
Signal-to-Noise
Ratio

Percent
Image Uniformity

Percent
Signal Ghosting

B. RF SURFACE COIL RF Coil Description: __________________________ Date: ____________

Phantom Description: ___________________________________________
Pulse Sequence:

Surface Coil

Matrix: ___________ BW: _________kHz ; NSA ___

Signal-to-Noise

Slice thickness ______mm; spacing _______ mm

TX attenuation (or gain) __________
Maximum
Signal

Noise Standard
Deviation

Image uniformity distribution OK?

________

Image ghosting OK?

________

HARD COPY IMAGE:

ACR MRI QC Manual, pg. 125

Type: ____ TR: _____ TE: ______ FOV: _____ cm

Maximum Signal-toNoise Ratio

Window width ________

Several copies of this page may be required to report on all RF coils.

Window level _______

Slice Cross-Talk Measurements

1. Position 5mm slices on the uniform volume
2. Repeat measurements decreasing the slice
gap :
Series #

No. Slices

11

11

11

11

Slice Gap (mm)

min

0.5

1.0

3. Measure the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for

each of the image sets.
4. Plot the SNR vs. percentage slice gap

Signal-to-Noise
vs. Inter-slice Gap
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
(percent of Maximum)

100%

SE, TE = 20
FE, TE =8
TFE, TE =4

90%

80%

70%
0%

25%

50%

Percentage Slice Gap

75%

100%

Soft Copy Displays

Requires precision
luminance meter
Four tests
Maximum and minimum
luminance
Luminance uniformity
Resolution
Spatial Accuracy

5. Interslice RF Interference
Phantom Description: ___________________________________________
Pulse Sequence:

Type: ____ TR: _____ TE: ______ FOV: _____ cm

Matrix: ___________ BW: _________kHz ; NSA ___

Series
Number

S lice
Gap
(mm)

100 %

S ignalto-Noise
Ratio
M e a sure d S NR

RF Slice
Interference

Number of slices______

1
2
3
4

90 %

80 %

70 %

0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Inte r- slice Ga p (pe rce nt of slice thickne ss)

6. Soft Copy Displays

Monitor Description: __________________________________________

Soft Copy
Displays

-2

Maximum Luminance: ________________________ Cd m .

-2

Minimum Luminance: _________________________ Cd m .

Luminance Uniformity:
-2

Average of values obtained in four corners of screen: ______ Cd m .

Luminance measured in center of screen:

-2

______ Cd m .

Percent difference: ________ %

-

Review of
Routine QC
Program
ACR MRI QC Manual, pg. 127

|(Center Average Corners)/(Center) x 100% < 30%|

7. Evaluation of Sites Technologist QC Program

4) Set up and positioning accuracy:

(daily)

5) Center Frequency: (daily)

6) Transmitter Attenuation or Gain: (daily)

_________
_________
_________

7) Geometric Accuracy Measurements: (daily)

_________

8) Spatial Resolution Measurements: (daily)

_________

9) Low Contrast Detectability: (daily)

_________

10) Film Quality Control (weekly)

_________

Visual Checklist: (weekly)

_________

MRI Equipment Evaluation Summary

Site ___________________
Report Date: __________
System MRAP #_____________ Survey Date: __________
MRI System Manufacturer ___________ Model: __________
Physicist/MRI Scientist: ____________________
Signature: ________________________________
Equipment Evaluation Tests

Summary
Sheet
(pg. 131)

1. Magnetic Field Homogeneity:

2. Slice Position Accuracy
3. Slice Thickness Accuracy
4. RF Coils Performance
a. Volume Coils Signal-to-Noise Ratio
b. Volume Coils Image Uniformity
c. Volume Coils Ghosting Ratios
d. Surface Coils Signal-to-Noise Ratio
5. Inter-slice RF Interference
6. Soft copy displays

Pass / Fail
_________
_________
_________
_________
_________
_________
_________
_________
_________

Medical Physicists or MRI Scientists Recommendations for

Quality Improvement:

______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________

MRI QC Program Summary

MRI Physicist
runs baseline tests of system performance
sets action criteria for routine ACR phantom tests
performs quarterly calibration checks with
appropriate phantoms
reviews QC program

Technologist
performs daily tests to assess image quality using
ACR phantom
Weekly checks of hard copy output

All measurements made, problems

discovered, and actions required to resolve
the problems are recorded for review

Successful MRI QC Program

1. Technologists run QC scans on a
daily basis
2. If exceed action criteria repeat QC
procedure
3. Physicist reviews QC data annually
4. Record data - report problems to
service
5. Have service record problems and
solutions in a service log