Foundations of MRI phase imaging and processing for Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM)

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biophysics
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background:

• Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM) is an advanced MRI technique.
• It relies on estimating magnetic field distributions within tissues.
• Extracting this information requires complex processing of raw MRI phase data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM).
• To discuss assumptions and limitations in MRI phase data pre-processing.
• To cover the process from raw phase data to QSM.

Main Methods:

• Review of fundamental MRI signal and magnetic susceptibility relations.
• Discussion of magnetic field map reconstruction from multi-channel phase images.
• Overview of background field correction techniques and QSM solution strategies.

Main Results:

• Detailed examination of pre-processing steps essential for QSM.
• Identification of underlying assumptions and limitations in MRI phase data processing.
• Comprehensive review of current QSM methodologies.

Conclusions:

• Accurate QSM is dependent on rigorous pre-processing of MRI phase data.
• Understanding limitations in these steps is critical for reliable results.
• This review serves as a guide to QSM pre-processing and current strategies.