Abdominal MRI at 3.0 T: the basics revisited.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of our article is to describe the underlying physics concepts of abdominal MRI at 3.0 T and their impact on signal-to-noise ratio, susceptibility artifacts, chemical shift artifacts, and dielectric effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Abdominal MR sequence protocols optimized for 1.5-T scanners should not be transferred to 3.0 T without substantial modification. In addition, specific patient groups--for example, large patients with ascites--are not well suited to undergo an abdominal MRI study at 3.0 T.
Merkle
Elmar M
EM
Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Duke North, Rm. 1417, Box 3808, Erwin Rd., Durham, NC 27710, USA. elmar.merkle@duke.edu
Dale
Brian M
BM
D000005:Abdomen; D016477:Artifacts; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging