MR Physics for Scientists I: From Spins to the Classical Description

This 25-minute lecture will be the first of seven talks in the "MR Physics for Scientists I" Weekend Educational Session, and should cover the basic quantum mechanical description of spins ½, the Zeeman resonance concept and the Boltzmann distribution allowing the derivation of the amplitude of the Net Magnetization vector used in the Classical Description of MRI. In a second part, the interaction of the net magnetization with static magnetic field, linear gradients and radio-frequency modulated pulses, resulting from the Bloch Equations in the Rotating frame should be thoroughly discussed. Its implications in imaging (slice selection, frequency encoding) can be briefly argued.

MR Physics for Scientists I: What you need to make it happen, a hardware overview

This 25-minute talk is the second of seven talks (after From Spins to the Classical Description) in the "MR Physics for Scientists I" Weekend Educational Session. MRI systems consist of 3 main components (magnet, gradient and RF coils) as well as the computer systems for user interaction, measurement control and signal processing. This talk should address the various designs and materials used for this 3 components and how they have evolved over the past 4 decades. As examples superconductor and permanent magnet technology could be addressed (including shielding considerations), linear gradient and shim designs, as well as the radio frequency transmit and receive arrays.

MR Physics for Scientists II: Physics of Functional MRI: GE, SE BOLD

This 25-min lecture is the first of seven talks in the "MR Physics for Scientists II" Weekend Educational Session, and should address the contrast mechanisms contributing to the BOLD effect. The lecture could start with an overview of what is known on neurovascular coupling, and then address how MRI can be used to detect it. Particularly, the lecture should address intra- and extra-vascular contributions to the BOLD effect, the rapid and static dephasing regimes and their implications in sensitivity throughout vascular bed and cortical depth. The talk could address in a first instance the implications in BOLD specificity, including effects of draining veins, the advantages and disadvantages of different sequences such as gradient and spin echo, as well as their static field dependencies. Other MRI methodologies used to study brain function could be briefly addressed.

Data Acquisition and Image Reconstruction I: Non-Cartesian sampling: advantages and pitfalls

This 25-min lecture is the second of seven talks (after "MR Basics Recap") in the "Data Acquisition and Image Reconstruction I" Weekend Educational Session. Non-Cartesian k-space sampling is increasingly used in recent years due to its high efficiency in k-space traversal, robustness against motion, reduced acoustic noise, and/or the ability to achieve ultra-short TE for visualizing tissues with short T2's or detecting non-proton signals. A number of challenges, however, are present when working with non-Cartesian sampling strategies that can lead to reduced image quality and image artifacts, counteracting to some of the advantages that these trajectories may bring.  Potential data inconsistencies can be especially challenging in iterative reconstruction approaches, requiring special treatment of the data to maintain good image quality. This 25-minute presentation will review the advantages and disadvantages of non-Cartesian k-space sampling, focusing on spiral, radial, and EPI acquisitions as popular non-Cartesian scans.

Data Acquisition and Image Reconstruction II: Parallel Imaging

This 25-min lecture is the first of seven talks in the "Data Acquisition and Image Reconstruction II" Weekend Educational Session, and will explain the principles of spatial encoding by means of spatially varying coils sensitivities and give an overview of available parallel imaging techniques. Popular approaches for image space and k-space parallel imaging reconstruction will be explained including SENSE, GRAPPA, as E-SPIRiT, which makes the connection between image-space and k-space reconstruction approaches.  Different approaches for coil sensitivity/kernel estimation will be discussed (external or auto-calibration, regularization approaches, parameter selection), as well as different techniques for coil combination and coil compression.

MRI and Epilepsy: Diagnosis and Treatment of the Epileptogenic Zone: 7T in Epilepsy

This 25 minute lecture will be one of eight in the “Epilepsy Imaging” education session. The talk should cover advantages and disadvantages of 7T compared to 3T in the epilepsy population. A discussion of advantages could include improved lesion conspicuity, tissue contrast differences (such as T2*, MPRAGE gray-white), and novel contrast mechanisms (SWI, QSM). 7T challenges should include discussion of B0 and magnetic susceptibility effects on the temporal lobes, peripheral brain effects from B1 non-uniformity, and longer acquisition times with increased SNR. The talk should cover current imaging protocols and future innovation (such as fMRI, QSM, MRS, sodium imaging, parallel transmit). Clinical examples demonstrating the advantages (and potentially disadvantages) of 7T should be provided.

MRI and Epilepsy: Diagnosis and Treatment of the Epileptogenic Zone: MR-guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy in Epilepsy

This 25-minute presentation will be one of eight in the “Epilepsy Imaging” education session. The talk should explain the types of epilepsy appropriate for MRgLITT. The MRgLITT procedure should be reviewed, and include a brief explanation of the neurosurgical preparation, and more detailed review of MR stereotaxy and thermometry. Illustrative clinical case examples should be provided.

Clinical vs pre-clinical: Traumatic Brain Injury: Imaging Update in TBI

This 25-minute presentation is a sunrise session on “Traumatic Brain Injury”. The talk should briefly review the clinical features of TBI and know associated structural changes. Imaging review should include high-resolution structural imaging (volumetrics, cortical thickness), susceptibility-weighted imaging, resting fMRI, blood flow analysis (DCE, ASL), MR spectroscopy, and DTI. Illustrative clinical cases should be provided.

Brainstem, Cerebellum and Basal Ganglia/Thalamus: Cerebellum Pathways, Connectome and Imaging

This 25 minute talk will be part of an eight-talk session about Brainstem and Cerebellum Anatomy, Development, Pathways as well Basal Ganglia, Thalamus Anatomy, Connectome and Imaging.  The speaker for this particular talk should be an expert on cerebellar development, anatomy and imaging and preferably experience with high-field MRI. The talk should include information about use of DTI and also possibly resting state connectivity of cerebellum with the cerebrum and brainstem. Preclinical imaging work experience on the same topic could also enhance this talk and will be preferred.

Gliomas: Pediatric Glioma Genomics and Imaging

This 25-minute talk will be part of an eight-talk session about Gliomas and Imaging. Speaker of this particular talk should be an expert on pediatric brain tumors and genomics. The talk should include information about latest genomic discoveries in pediatric brain tumors and changing role of imaging in the new genomic world.

Prostate MRI: Easy As PI-RADS: Not PI-RADS: Benign mimics and post-treatment imaging

This 25-minute lecture is the second in a four-talk session (after “PI-RADS: Prostate MRI From The Urologist's Point of View”) and should describe non-malignant findings in prostate MRI that can mimic malignancy, including prostatitis, extrude nodules, granulomatous prostatitis, post-treatment changes, and others. It should review the entities themselves, typical imaging findings, and their clinical implications. In particular, the speaker should focus on features that differentiate these entities from prostate cancer.

Prostate MRI: Easy As PI-RADS: Imaging of prostate cancer for radiation planning and follow-up

This 25-minute lecture is the third in a four-talk session on prostate MRI. Prostate cancers detected with MRI are frequently treated with radiation, which induces treatment-related changes on imaging and can confound interpretation of downstream MRIs. This lecture should focus on indications for radiation therapy; important features of prostate cancer on MRI that are useful for planning radiation therapy; expected post-treatment changes; and interpretation of follow-up examinations for recurrence or new malignancy.

Prostate MRI: Easy As PI-RADS: Quantitative and functional prostate MRI: The future of PI-RADS

This 25-minute lecture is the final talk in a four-talk session on prostate MRI. Prostate MRI is composed of both structural and functional components, in particular diffusion- and perfusion-weighted imaging. Diffusion-weighted imaging has central role in PI-RADS, while perfusion-weighted imaging is less emphasized, and other modalities are currently not included in the criteria. This lecture should discuss imaging beyond simple T2-weighted structural sequences and the current and potential future roles for functional MRI modalities in PI-RADS.

Common Challenges in Body MRI: Sedation and anesthesia-related challenges in MRI

This 20-minute talk is the fourth in the subsession “The Environment & Physics of Challenges in MRI” (after talks entitled “Getting Into The Room - The MRI Environment and Implants, Pacemakers, Etc,” “Coils, Position and Sequences - Optimal Image Acquisition”, and “Who are the difficult patients?”). Patients with claustrophobia or other challenges limiting their ability to undergo an MRI can be imaged under conscious sedation or general anesthesia. However, the introduction of sedation and anesthesia to the MRI environment creates a new set of challenges related to equipment, monitoring needs, the effects of anesthesia itself, breath holding, and other issues. This lecture should focus on the special considerations for MRI performed under conscious sedation or general anesthesia.

Modelling ASL perfusion signals: Kinetic Modelling of ASL

This 25+5 minute lecture will be the first of two talks in this sunrise session (the second will be “Hands on Perfusion Modeling”), and will be dedicated to introducing the topic of ASL perfusion signal modelling with a concise but comprehensive overview. It should cover the basics of measuring blood flow with ASL perfusion MRI, the different ASL strategies for labelling of the intravascular signal, the confounding effects of transit time and how they can be minimized and/or modeled, and describe the common models use to explain the ASL signal. The level of this lecture should be targeted to an audience new to the topic, and serve as an introduction to actual step-by-step live demonstration of modelling scenarios in the second speaker in this session.

Hemodynamic modelling of fMRI time signals: Biophysical modeling of neurovascular signals

This 25+5 minute lecture will be the first of two talks in this sunrise session (the second will be “Hands on BOLD Modeling”), and will be dedicated to introducing topic of fMRI signal modelling with a concise but comprehensive overview. It should cover the basics of neuro-vascular coupling, the contributors to the hemodynamic response (CBF, CBF, CMRO2, BOLD) and describe the common models that explain their relationship and transients. The level of this lecture should be targeted to an audience new to the topic, and serve as an introduction to actual step-by-step live demonstration of modelling scenarios in the second speaker in this session.