title: Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging at 3.0 T what is the ultimate gain in signal-to-noise ratio?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to calculate the gain in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of four human abdominal tissues at 3.0 Tesla (T) compared with standard 1.5 T and to validate this calculation in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expected gain in SNR at 3.0 T in the liver, pancreas, spleen, and kidney compared with standard 1.5 T was approximated theoretically for a T2-weighted HASTE (half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo) and a T1-weighted gradient-echo in- and opposed-phase sequence. Fifteen healthy male subjects underwent abdominal MR imaging using a 1.5 T and 3.0 T scanner. Coronal T2-weighted HASTE images and axial T1-weighted gradient-echo in- and opposed-phase images were acquired using the sequence parameters optimized by the vendor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Except for opposed-phased imaging of pancreatic tissue, in vivo adjusted SNR values of all abdominal tissues were significantly higher at 3.0 T for all sequences (P < .05). The highest overall gain in SNR was achieved with the HASTE sequence ranging from 3.8-fold for renal imaging to 7.4-fold for hepatic imaging. The theoretical calculation of SNR gain was in good agreement with the experimentally measured gain in SNR for the HASTE and the in-phase sequence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-field abdominal MR imaging at 3.0 T offers significantly higher SNR compared with standard 1.5 T MR imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Duke North-Room 1417, Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Sebastian T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Schindera
authors.forename: Elmar M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Merkle
authors.forename: Brian M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Delong
authors.forename: Rendon C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000328:Adult; D016477:Artifacts; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014781:Viscera / Q000033:anatomy & histology*