Cardiac imaging at 4 Tesla.
Although higher magnetic field strength is a means to increase SNR in MRI, cardiac imaging has been difficult at high fields due to decreased RF penetration. Using a tailored cardiac coil constructed of two transmit surface coils with a four-element multicoil for signal reception, the authors demonstrate high-quality heart images acquired on a 4-T scanner. These images show an increase in SNR of approximately 2.5-fold over imaging at 1.5 T. This improvement in image quality can be used to increase in-plane resolution, reduce slice thickness, or reduce total scan time. Magn Reson Med 45:176-178, 2001.
Dougherty
L
L
Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. dougherty@rad.upenn.edu
Connick
T J
TJ
Mizsei
G
G
D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*