MR imaging of the female pelvis at 3 Tesla: evaluation of image homogeneity using different dielectric pads.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate improvements in image homogeneity in pelvic MR imaging at 3 Tesla (T) using two different dielectric pads.


METHODS
A total of eight healthy females were scanned using a 3T MR scanner equipped with a body-array coil. Axial and sagittal fast spin-echo T2-weighted images (T2WI) (TR/TE = 3200 msec/94 msec), axial fast spin-echo T1-weighted images (T1WI) (TR/TE = 700 msec/11 msec), and sagittal half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE) images (TR/TE = 3000 msec/100 msec) were performed for pelvic imaging. Sequences were repeated with dielectric pads (consisting of either ultrasound [US] gel or water), and without pads. Three or four regions of interest (ROIs) were placed on fatty tissues and the ratio of minimum to maximum signal intensity (RSI) was calculated as a marker of image homogeneity.


RESULTS
RSI was significantly higher on T2WI and T1WI when using dielectric pads than when no pad was used. A similar tendency was observed in RSI on HASTE. No significant difference was found between images with US gel pads and those with water pads.


CONCLUSIONS
Dielectric pads consisting of either US gel or water are effective in improving image homogeneity of the pelvis on 3T MRI.
Kataoka
Masako
M
Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. makok@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Isoda
Hiroyoshi
H
Maetani
Yoji
Y
Nakamoto
Yuji
Y
Koyama
Takashi
T
Umeoka
Shigeaki
S
Tamai
Ken
K
Kido
Aki
A
Morisawa
Nobuko
N
Saga
Tsuneo
T
Togashi
Kaori
K
D000328:Adult; D002712:Chlorides; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017895:Manganese Compounds; D010388:Pelvis / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
D002712:Chlorides; D003287:Contrast Media; D005782:Gels; D017895:Manganese Compounds; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; C025340:manganese chloride