Quality assurance of clinical MRI scanners using ACR MRI phantom: preliminary results

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Radiology
• Quality Assurance

Background:

• Clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners are vital for disease diagnosis and treatment.
• Mandatory quality assurance (QA) ensures optimal image quality from MRI scanners in hospitals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the American College of Radiology (ACR) MRI accreditation phantom test as part of MRI QA protocols.
• To assess the impact of standardized QA procedures on clinical MRI scanner performance and maintenance.

Main Methods:

• The ACR phantom test was implemented as a core component of MRI QA protocols.
• Seven key MR image quality assessments were performed: geometric accuracy, high-contrast resolution, slice thickness and position accuracy, image intensity uniformity, percent signal ghosting, and low-contrast object detectability.
• Signal-to-noise ratio and central frequency were also monitored.

Main Results:

• MRI QA procedures were applied to four clinical MRI scanners over a 3-month period.
• The QA results indicated that the ACR phantom test enhanced the efficiency of service engineers in troubleshooting and resolving scanner problems.

Conclusions:

• The ACR phantom test is an essential and effective tool for MRI quality assurance.
• Implementing standardized QA protocols, including the ACR phantom test, leads to more efficient problem-solving and maintenance of clinical MRI scanners.