Overview:

Dr. Stefan Bluml will describe MRS acquisition and technical aspects in a clinical environment, metabolic maturation from birth to adolescence, birth asphyxia and localized temperature measurement.

Dr. Alex Lin will present MRS diagnosis of metabolic disorders and anoxia in the ER, traumatic brain injury, psychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.

Objectives:

• Understand the requirements for the use of MRS in a clinical environment;
• Appreciate the evolving metabolic features of the brain and the need for standardized acquisition methods and appropriate control data;
• Recognize main features of neonatal hypoxic/ischemic brain injury;
• Understand the usefulness of MRS for measuring regional brain temperatures in newborns undergoing therapeutic hypothermia treatment;
• Learn how MRS can be used to impact patient management;
• Compare and contrast the spectroscopic changes that occur from acute to chronic and severe to subconcussive brain injury;
• Describe the metabolic changes that occur in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression; and
• Understand how spectroscopy can be used to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment.

Overview:

Presentation 1: Dementia Platform UK PET-MR Harmonisation Study
In the UK a network of 8 PET-MR scanners has been set up for dementia scanning, 3 Siemens mMR and 5 GE Signa scanners. However for future clinical trials, it is important to reduce variability of measurements through the harmonisation of scanning protocols, and to characterise the repeatability and reproducibility of these measurements. Following the design of harmonised protocols, a travelling volunteer test-retest study is currently being conducted using the amyloid radiotracers, [18F]flutemetamol and [18F]florbetaben. The presentation will describe the study design, the many challenges that had to be met, and hopefully some preliminary results from the [18F]flutemetamol arm of the study which finished on the 26th July 2021.

Presentation 2: Harmonization of PET in simultaneous PET/MR and Path to Qualification
The talk will present in one part an approach and its results to perform Harmonization of PET in simultaneous PET/MR in which we use NEMA phantom data acquired in a standard and controlled manner at two sites equipped with a Siemens mMR and a GE Signa PET/MR scanner. PET data were reconstructed by systematically varying image reconstruction parameters of number of iteration and filtration level and the best agreement between the reconstruction were found by evaluating the root mean square difference (RMSD) in contrast recovery coefficients (CRC). In a second part of the talk, an approach will be presented as a possible path to site qualifications of PET/MR scanners for multicenter brain imaging studies without the use of phantom to validate the accuracy of attenuation correction.

Overview:

In the presentation of ‘Understanding MRI safety: Physics, Physiology and Practice’, the interaction between the physical principles of the three types of magnetic fields in the MRI environment, viz., the static magnetic field, time-varying spatial field gradient, and radio-frequency magnetic fields, and their interactions with the biologic tissue will be highlighted. This understanding can guide the development of policies and procedures that can help create a safe MR environment for patients, staff, and support personnel. From this presentation, the audience will understand the characteristics of the three main magnetic fields in the MR environment and a framework for creating MRI safe policies and procedures.

The presentation of ‘Active Implant MRI Safety’ will provide a review of the process to clear active implants, with a focus on pacemakers. The audience will have an understanding of how to analyze the vendor documentation to identify what is relevant for the technologist to ensure that examinations are performed safely.

Overview:
Every year, the ISMRM and SMRT have a scientific meeting which is almost certain to metamorphize into a varied format of “face to face” blended with “virtual” forms of address, presentation, and moderation. The techniques of presenting are strongly aligned with techniques of education and teaching, and these techniques are best developed with both meeting formats in mind, with a foundation in quality educational material and delivery. A skilled educator and presenter is ideal to give members a lecture on goals to be aimed for and hopefully achieved during their time on the real or virtual stage. Similarly, moderating in this mixed format environment is a skill to be used to guide the meeting, and extract the most information from the presentation and presenters. Moderating in its own way, can go someway towards making or breaking a meeting.

A large number of ISMRM and SMRT members are presenting at the upcoming meeting, and another significant member cohort will be moderating the sessions during this meeting. This virtual meeting will come 3-4 weeks before the ISMRM/SMRT annual meeting and the timing of this virtual meeting would be perfect to address this much needed skillset.

Overview:
There is broad recognition that cancer imaging is best performed with standardized quality imaging protocols to enable serialized assessment of disease and treatment progression. That is a worthy goal in itself. However, there is a constant growth and body of work in the research domain which is yet to progress to routine clinical imaging practice. There is a recognized gap in application and translation of contemporary work and research in many imaging fields, including cancer. This meeting will explore current, and some emerging imaging techniques in the field of cancer, as well as the important process of translating contemporary imaging research into routine clinical practice.

Accreditation:
The Society for MR Radiographers & Technologists (SMRT), A Section of the ISMRM, has designated this live activity for a maximum of 1.00 Category A Credit.
The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.