title: Optimization of survey protocols for MRI.
abstract: A method for evaluating the sensitivity of MRI protocols to changes in an arbitrary number of tissue parameters over a broad range of parameter values is presented. This analysis is useful for choosing an optimal basis set of images for either a "survey" protocol or tissue segmentation algorithms. A survey protocol is required when searching for a lesion of unknown type or location. Segmentation requires unique signal signatures for tissues that may cover a broad range of tissue parameter values. Data acquisition is modeled as a mapping of a domain of tissue parameter values into a signal manifold in a signal strength space defined by the MRI protocol. The efficacy of the protocol is evaluated by investigating the characteristics of the signal manifold. A figure of merit which maximizes the probability of discriminating each point in the domain of tissue parameters from all others is developed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: McVeigh
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Henkelman
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bronskill
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity