Rad Tech's Guide to MRI

Carolyn Kaut Roth, RT- MR - CT - M - CV - FSMRT, is a registered radiographer, who majored in physics at the University of Pennsylvania and received a clinical Master's degree in Magnetic Resonance for Radiographers at Anglia Polytechnic Cambridge United Kingdom. She has served on MRI Educational Task forces for The American Council for Education with the Department of Education for the Federal Government of the United States. She is currently the CEO of Imaging Education Associates, which is an education services company serving the medical imaging industry with a focus on continuing education programs for radiographers.

1 Patient Care and Safety for Magnetic Resonance Imaging 1

Introduction to Patient Care and Safety for MRI 3

Screening Patients and Personnel 3

Ancillary Equipment and Implants 8

Assessing and Monitoring 19

Contrast Agents for MRI 21

Life-Threatening Situations 24

Safety Precautions for Placement of Electrical Conductors 24

Environmental Considerations Temperature and Humidity 25

Gauss Line and Magnetic Field Strength 25

Emergency Procedures 27

Quench 27

Evacuation 29

Biologic Considerations 29

Radio Frequency Fields 29

Static Field Strength 32

FDA Guidelines for State Magnetic Fields 35

Gradient Magnetic Fields (Time-Varying Magnetic Fields) 35

Future Safety Considerations 38

2 Introduction to Clinical MRI Procedures 41

Introduction to Clinical MR. 41

Patient Preparation for Clinical: MRI 42

Special Considerations for Pediatric Patients 43

Choosing the Right Protocol 43

Parameters for Image Contrast in MRI 44

Pulse Sequences 47

Parameters for Signal-to-Noise and Resolution 51

Creating Artifact-Free Images 53

Types of FDA-Approved Contrast Agents 55

3 Imaging Procedures: Head and Neck Imaging. 57

Introduction of Head and Neck MRI 57

Standard Protocols for Imaging of the Brain 58

Anatomy and Physiology of the Brain 60

Patient Set-Up and Positioning for Brain Imaging 64

Indicators for Contrast Agents for Brain Imaging 65

Indicators for High-Resolution Brain Imaging 67

4 Spine Imaging Procedures 71

Introduction to Spine Magnetic Resonance Imaging 71

Standard Protocols for Imaging the Spine 72

Additional Spine Sequences for High Resolution 74

Anatomy and Physiology of the Spine 74

Patient Set-Up and Positioning for Spine Imaging 76

Indicators for Contrast Agents for Spine Imaging 79

Cervical Spine Imaging 80

Thoracic Spine Imaging 80

Lumber Spine Imaging 82

5 Musculoskeletal Imaging Procedures 85

Introduction to Musculoskeletal Magnetic Resonance Imaging 86

Standard Protocols for Imaging the Musculoskeletal System 86

Patient Set-Up and Positioning for Musculoskeletal Imaging 90

Indicators for Contrast for Musculoskeletal Imaging 92

Standard Dose and Administration for Gadolinium 92

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Temporomandibular joint 93

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Upper Extremities 94

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Lower Extremities 101

6 Thorax Imaging Procedures. 111

Introduction to Thorax Magnetic Resonance Imaging 111

Standard Protocols for Imaging the Thorax 112

Patient Set-Up and Positioning for Thorax Imaging 116

Indicators for Contrast Agents for Thorax Imaging 121

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Breast 123

7 Abdomen Imaging Procedures 131

Introduction to Abdomen Magnetic Resonance Imaging 131

Standard Protocols for Imaging the Abdomen 132

Anatomy and Physiology of the Abdomen 136

Patient Set-Up and Positioning for Abdomen Imaging 138

Indicators for Contrast Agents for Abdomen Imaging 140

8 Pelvis Imaging Procedures 143

Introduction to Pelvis Magnetic Resonance Imaging 143

Standard Protocols for Imaging the Pelvis 144

Patient Set-Up and Positioning for Pelvis Imaging 144

Indicators for Contrast Agents for Pelvis Imaging 146

Standard Dose and Administration for Gadolinium 147

Standard Protocols for Female Pelvis MRI 147

Standard Protocols for Male Pelvis MRI 152

9 Vascular Imaging Procedures 155

Introduction to Vascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging 156

Flow Imaging: An Overview 156

Magnetic Resonance Angiography: An Overview 158

Body Magnetic Resonance Angiography Changes 163

Anatomy and Physiology of the Vascular System 166