title: Evaluation of image quality of a 32-channel versus a 12-channel head coil at 1.5T for MR imaging of the brain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Multichannel phased-array head coils are undergoing exponential escalation of coil element numbers. While previous technical studies have found gains in SNR and spatial resolution with the addition of element coils, it remains to be determined how these gains affect clinical reading. The purpose of this clinical study was to determine if the SNR and spatial resolution characteristics of a 32-channel head coil result in improvements in perceived image quality and lesion evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one patients underwent MR imaging of the brain at 1.5T sequentially with both a 12-channel and a 32-channel receive-only phased-array head coil. Axial T2WIs, T1WIs, FLAIR images, and DWIs were acquired. Anonymized images were compared side-by-side and by sequence for image quality, lesion evaluation, and artifacts by 3 neuroradiologists. Results of the comparison were analyzed for the preference for a specific head coil.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FLAIR and DWI images acquired with the 32-channel coil showed significant improvement in image quality in several parameters. T2WIs also improved significantly with acquisition by the 32-channel coil, while T1WIs improved in a limited number of parameters. While lesion evaluation also improved with acquisition of images by the 32-channel coil, there was no apparent improvement in diagnostic quality. There was no difference in artifacts between the 2 coils.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improvements in SNR and spatial resolution attributed to image acquisition with a 32-channel head coil are paralleled by perceived improvements in image quality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Parikh
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Sandhu
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Blackham
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Coffey
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jesberger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Griswold
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sunshine
mesh_terms: D016477:Artifacts; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020772:Internal Capsule / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity