title: Influence of partial k-space filling on the quality of magnetic resonance images.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the influence that the scan percentage tool used in partial k-space acquisition has on the quality of images obtained with magnetic resonance imaging equipment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Philips 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging scanner was used in order to obtain phantom images for quality control tests and images of the knee of an adult male.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant variations in the uniformity and signal-to-noise ratios with the phantom images. However, analysis of the high-contrast spatial resolution revealed significant degradation when scan percentages of 70% and 85% were used in the acquisition of T1- and T2-weighted images, respectively. There was significant degradation when a scan percentage of 25% was used in T1- and T2-weighted in vivo images (p ≤ 0.01 for both).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of tools that limit the k-space is not recommended without knowledge of their effect on image quality.
authors.affiliation: MD, MSc, Physicist, Doctoral Student in Clinical Radiology, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Escola Paulista de Medicina da Universidade Federal de São Paulo (EPM-Unifesp), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tiago da Silva
authors.initials: Tda S
authors.lastname: Jornada
authors.affiliation: Physicist, Hospital São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila Hitomi
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor Emeritus, Escola Paulista de Medicina da Universidade Federal de São Paulo (EPM-Unifesp), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Regina Bitelli
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Medeiros
keywords: In vivo magnetic resonance imaging; K-space; Magnetic resonance imaging; Quality control