3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging: A new standard in liver imaging?

Abstract

An ever-increasing number of 3.0 Tesla (T) magnets are installed worldwide. Moving from the standard of 1.5 T to higher field strength implies a number of potential advantage and drawbacks, requiring careful optimization of imaging protocols or implementation of novel hardware components. Clinical practice and literature review suggest that state-of-the-art 3.0 T is equivalent to 1.5 T in the assessment of focal liver lesions and diffuse liver disease. Therefore, further technical improvements are needed in order to fully exploit the potential of higher field strength.

Liver MRI: From basic protocol to advanced techniques

“…There is also greater fat and water spectral separation, which can lead to better fat suppression [8,21].…”

“…Higher SNR can be used to improve image resolution, using thinner slices, or reduce scan time, which is important for difficult patients [8]. The quality of the dynamic study can be further improved by a Dixon method of fat suppression [21]. Regarding DWI, there can be an up to two-fold increase in SNR [11,12].…”

“…There is greater radiofrequency power deposition to the patient at 3T relatively to 1.5T, especially in T2-w FSE sequences due to the larger number of radiofrequency pulses [21]. Energy deposition can be reduced by increasing the TR, reducing transmitter bandwidth, reducing the anatomical coverage, decreasing flip angles, using radiofrequency refocusing techniques or parallel imaging [8,9,21].…”

“…Energy deposition can be reduced by increasing the TR, reducing transmitter bandwidth, reducing the anatomical coverage, decreasing flip angles, using radiofrequency refocusing techniques or parallel imaging [8,9,21].…”

“…Standing wave or dielectric artefact becomes a concern at 3T, with interactions between radiofrequency waves and the patient's body leading to heterogeneous deposition and large variations in signal [8,17,21]. FSE sequences, like T2-w sequences, are more affected, demonstrating areas of signal drop, especially in the left liver lobe, particularly in larger patients and in the presence of ascites (Fig.…”