Clinical quantitative MRI and the need for metrology

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biophysics
• Radiology

Background:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a cornerstone of medical diagnostics, historically used qualitatively for visual tissue assessment.
• Quantitative MRI (qMRI) is emerging, enabling physical measurements of tissue properties like volume, composition, and microstructure.
• qMRI promises improved scanner harmonization, calibration, and suitability for large-scale clinical trials and longitudinal studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current research and clinical applications of qMRI from a measurement science perspective.
• To highlight the importance of reliability, reproducibility, and uncertainty quantification in qMRI.
• To emphasize the growing need for metrology in the field of qMRI.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on quantitative MRI techniques and applications.
• Discussion of measurement science principles applied to MRI data.
• Exploration of challenges in validating qMRI processes and estimating uncertainties.

Main Results:

• qMRI provides objective, quantifiable data beyond traditional visual MRI interpretation.
• Standardization and calibration are crucial for reliable qMRI across different scanners.
• Accurate estimation of measurement uncertainty is essential for meaningful qMRI results.

Conclusions:

• qMRI offers significant potential for enhanced diagnostic information and large-scale research.
• Addressing technical challenges in reliability, reproducibility, and uncertainty is critical for clinical qMRI implementation.
• A robust metrology framework is urgently needed to support the expanding clinical use of qMRI.