MR Physics & Techniques for Clinicians - ISMRM 24th Annual Meeting & Exhibition

ISMRM 24th Annual Meeting & Exhibition • 07-13 May 2016 • Singapore

Educational Session: MR Physics & Techniques for Clinicians

Skill Level: Basic to Intermediate

Organizer: Marcus T. Alley, Ph.D., Brian Hargreaves, Ph.D., Michael Markl, Ph.D., Bernd Jung, Ph.D. & Nicole Seiberlich, Ph.D.

Thursday 12 May 2016

Overview
This two-hour course will be a basic and comprehensive review of MRI physics and techniques. The presentations will be non-mathematical and suitable for clinicians and physicists new to the field. The course will cover advanced techniques including perfusion and diffusion imaging as well as recent developments in high-field imaging.

Target Audience
This course is primarily designed for the clinician who will benefit from an understanding of the "how’s and why’s" of MR imaging. While it requires no prior experience with MR, those with some familiarity and experience will also benefit. Those interested may include: radiologists and clinicians relatively new to MR imaging (including residents and fellows), experienced radiologists and clinicians wanting a refresher course in MR physics, and physicists and engineers wanting an introduction to the field.

Educational Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

Describe the principles of perfusion imaging and diffusion weighted imaging;
Select the appropriate contrast agents to be used to target different anatomical areas and physiological processes during imaging, and explain why; and
Understand current concepts, applications and challenges in high-field MR imaging.

PROGRAM

Moderators: Mariya Doneva, Bernd Jung

16:00	Artifacts to Artefacts: Causes & Cures from Clinical Perspective Vikas Gulani¹ ¹Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States This talk will give a clinically oriented perspective on understanding, using and if desirable, avoiding MR artifacts.
16:30	Contrast Agents Bernd Jung¹ ¹University Hospital Bern The purpose of this talk is presentation of an overview of commonly used contrast agents in MRI. The active principle of Gadolinium-based contast agents and its impact on different types of MR images is explained. Furthermore, T1 and T2 effects with respect to certain imaging sequences are illustrated. The difference of extra-cellular and intravascular (blood pool) contrast agents is presented as well as the difference of Gadolinium-based contrast agents ("positive" agents with dominent T1 effect, increased signal intensity) and iron-based contrast agents ("negative" agents with dominent T2* effect, decreased signal intensity). Finally, the deposition of Gadolinium in patients is briefly discussed.
17:00	(Ultra-) High Field Imaging Sebastian Schmitter^1,2 ¹Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States, ²Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany Most of the ultra-high field systems are being used for research purposes, but the transition into hospitals for dedicated applications is expected. The reasons for using high and ultra-high field compared to standard field strength are multifold and will be outlined in this presentation. Along with these benefits go a larger range of challenges, which are among the reasons for the rather slow transition of UHF into clinical routine. Solutions to most of these challenges will be presented and applications will be highlighted.
17:30	Adjournment & Meet the Teachers

The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for
Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.