MR I Summary

Medical Imaging and Pattern
Recognition
Lecture 8
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Oleh Tretiak
MIPR Lecture 8
Copyright Oleh Tretiak, 2004
2
Medical Imaging Modalities:
History
1895: X-ray

~1950: Ultrasound
~1955: Radionuclide
1972: CT

~1980: MRI

Nobel Prize

MIPR Lecture 8
3
MRI Procedures
Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA)
Body MRI
Cardiac MRI
Chest MRI
Head MRI
Musculoskeletal MRI
Spine MRI
Functional MRI of the Brain (fMRI)
MIPR Lecture 8
4
Full Carotid Artery MRI
There are four carotid arteries, two on
each side of the neck: right and left
internal carotid arteries, and right and
left external carotid arteries.
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5
Cardiac MRI: Akinetic Wall

Animated clip and contrast image
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6
Cardiac MRI: Valvular Reflux
Reduced heart function due to aortic valve dysfunction.
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7
Chest MRI

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8
Head MRI
Cerebral Aneurism - Schematic
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Aneurysm

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10
Musculoskeletal MRI
Left: normal knee. Right: torn anterior
cruciate ligament
QuickTime and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
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11
Spine MRI

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12
Functional MRI of the Brain

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13
Strengths of MRI
Images of soft-tissue structures of the body, such as
the heart, lungs, liver, are clearer and more detailed
MRI can help evaluate the function as well as the
structure
Invaluable tool in early evaluation of tumors
MRI contrast materials are less harmful than those
used in X-ray or CT
Fast, non-invasive angiography
Exposure to radiation is minimal (non-ionizing)
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14
Risks and Weaknesses
Metal implants may cause problems
Problems with claustrophobia
MRI is to be avoided during the first 12
weeks of pregnancy
Bone is usually better imaged with X-
rays
MRI typically costs more than CT
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15
Magnetic Materials

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16
Nuclear Magnetism
Atomic nuclei have intrinsic quantized magnetic
moments
No magnetic field Strong magnetic field
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17
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
A transverse RF field at the appropriate frequency causes the
moments to tilt from the magnetizing field axis
B
B
B
B
H
t
= Acoset
e = H
0
H
t
= Acoset
e H
0
H
0
H
0
H
0
H
0

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18
Excitation of Spins
In a static field, the spins line up with the magnetic field. There is
no external magnetic signal.
If a magnetic nucleus is in field strength H
0
(Larmour frequency
e
0
), and a RF field normal to H
0
and at frequency e
0
is applied, the
magnetic moments move away (tip away) from the direction of H
o
.
Tip angle is proportional to the magnitude and duration of the
exciting field (RF field).

This is a resonance phenomenon. If e, the RF field frequency, is
different from e
0
, the tip angle is equal to 0.

The motion of the magnetization is described by the Bloch
equation.
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19
Excitation of Spins

H
0
u = AT/
0 < t < T
H
1
= Acose
0
t
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20
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
When a nuclear magnet is tilted
away from the external magnetic
field it rotates (precesses) at the
Larmour frequency. For hydrogen,
the Larmour frequency is 42.6 MHz
per Tesla.

e
0
=H
0

e
0
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21
Slice Selection
If the external field is equal to Hz(x, y, z) = H0 + zGz,
and an exciting field at frequency w0 is applied, the
slice z=0 is selected. That is, spins in that plane are
tipped, while other planes are not affected.
Slice profile is proportional to the Fourier transform of
the RF field envelope. Short, strong pulse thick
plane. Weak, long pulse thin plane.
The plane can be selected by field gradients.
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22
Slice Selection Examples
H
z
= H
0
+ xG
x
H
x
= Acose
0
t
H
z
H
z
Gradient Plane
x y-z
y x-z
z x-y
x-y-z oblique
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23
External Signal from Resonance
Spinning magnetization induces a voltage in
external coils, proportional to the size of
magnetic moment and to the frequency.
H
0
e
0
s(t)
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24
Bloch Equation
Motion of the magnetization vector is described
by the Bloch equation. The cross product term
leads to magnetic resonance, while T
1
and T
2

terms lead to relaxation (decay) of transient
effects. For living tissues, T
1
~ 0.2 to 1 sec, T
2
~
0.02 to 0.1 sec.
dM
dt
= M H
M
x
i + M
y
j
T
2

(M
z
M
0
)k
T
1
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25
Imaging: two boxes.
Assume the body consists of two samples, a in stronger
field, b in a weaker field. s(t) is the sum of sinewaves at the
two frequencies. The Fourier transform of s(t) will have two
lines corresponding to the frequencies (locations) of the two
samples. The strength of each line is proportional to the
amount of material in each location.
e
a
e
b
-2
-1.5
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
0
0
.
3
0
.
6
0
.
9
1
.
2
1
.
5
1
.
8
2
.
1
2
.
4
2
.
7
3
3
.
3
3
.
6
3
.
9
s(t)
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26
Imaging: linear object
Tube of nonuniform thickness in linearly
varying magnetic field. The Fourier transform
of the resonance signal is proportional to the
tube thickness.
Fourier transform
of s(t)
Tube, parts are narrow, parts
are wide
Map of tube thickness
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27
Imaging: two-dimensional object
Given a thin plate of magnetic moments in the x-y
plane. The magnetic fields has linear variation
(gradients) in the x and y directions. The resulting total
magnetic resonance signal is proportional to the Fourier
transform of m(x, y) along a line in the Fourier plane.
H
z
= H
0
+ G
x
x + G
y
y

s(t) = Ke
ie
0
t
m(x, y)e
i (G
x
x+G
y
)t
}}
= Ke
ie
0
t
FT[m(x, y)](e
x
= G
x
t,e
y
= G
y
t)
MIPR Lecture 8
28
Diagram of Fourier plane path
By successively applying different combinations of
gradients we can measure the Fourier transform over
the whole plane. Then take the inverse transform to
compute m(x, y).
x
y
m(x, y)
e
x
e
y
u
G
x
= Gcosu
G
y
= Gsinu
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29
Huge Magnetic Fields
Magnetization proportional to external field
Frequency proportional to external field
Voltage proportional to the product of magnetization
and frequency
Signal proportional to square of magnetic field
Higher field > better image quality!
We can get good image quality (for some
procedures) by scanning for a longer time
Problems with motion and with patient comfort
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30
Contrast Mechanisms
Intrinsic contrast mechanisms: m, proton
density; T1 and T2, relaxation times.
Chemical environment affects signals and
can produce contrast. For example, resonant
frequencies for fat and muscle are different.
Motion affects MRI signal. Flow and diffusion
can be measured.
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31
MRI Scanner

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32
Open Bore MRI Scanner
Avoid claustrophobia
Lower image quality
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33
Summary of MRI
Rich set of contrast mechanisms.
Versatile slice selection. Tomographic and
projection images are possible.
Non-ionizing. No known harmful effects,
except heating.
Resolution not as good as in X-ray.
Expensive and slow.
New technique. Rapid and continuing
progress.

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Medical Imaging and Pattern

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