title: Quiet PROPELLER MRI techniques match the quality of conventional PROPELLER brain imaging techniques.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Switching of magnetic field gradients is the primary source of acoustic noise in MR imaging. Sound pressure levels can run as high as 120 dB, capable of producing physical discomfort and at least temporary hearing loss, mandating hearing protection. New technology has made quieter techniques feasible, which range from as low as 80 dB to nearly silent. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the image quality of new commercially available quiet T2 and quiet FLAIR fast spin-echo PROPELLER acquisitions in comparison with equivalent conventional PROPELLER techniques in current day-to-day practice in imaging of the brain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four consecutive patients were prospectively scanned with quiet T2 and quiet T2 FLAIR PROPELLER, in addition to spatial resolution-matched conventional T2 and T2 FLAIR PROPELLER imaging sequences on a clinical 1.5T MR imaging scanner. Measurement of sound pressure levels and qualitative evaluation of relative image quality was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Quiet T2 and quiet T2 FLAIR were comparable in image quality with conventional acquisitions, with sound levels of approximately 75 dB, a reduction in average sound pressure levels of up to 28.5 dB, with no significant trade-offs aside from longer scan times.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quiet FSE provides equivalent image quality at comfortable sound pressure levels at the cost of slightly longer scan times. The significant reduction in potentially injurious noise is particularly important in vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and the debilitated. Quiet techniques should be considered in these special situations for routine use in clinical practice.
authors: From the Neuroradiology Section, Department of Radiology (I.C.-S., A.D., P.S.P., L.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, Radiology, New York, New York.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Corcuera-Solano
authors: From the Neuroradiology Section, Department of Radiology (I.C.-S., A.D., P.S.P., L.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, Radiology, New York, New York.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Doshi
authors: From the Neuroradiology Section, Department of Radiology (I.C.-S., A.D., P.S.P., L.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, Radiology, New York, New York.
authors: P S
authors: PS
authors: Pawha
authors: GE Healthcare (D.G., A.G.), Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Gui
authors: GE Healthcare (D.G., A.G.), Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Gaddipati
authors: From the Neuroradiology Section, Department of Radiology (I.C.-S., A.D., P.S.P., L.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, Radiology, New York, New York nuromri@gmail.com.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Tanenbaum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D055815:Young Adult