An optimized 1.5 Tesla MRI protocol of the brachial plexus

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Brachial plexus MRI protocols lack standardization, hindering reproducibility.
• Existing literature offers numerous protocols but no universal reference standard.
• Effective brachial plexus imaging requires precise sequence parameters and patient positioning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a reproducible 1.5 Tesla MRI protocol for brachial plexus imaging.
• To define essential parameters including patient positioning, coil selection, and imaging planes.
• To provide a reliable reference for brachial plexus MRI acquisition.

Main Methods:

• Systematic in vivo investigation of MRI sequences and parameters.
• Evaluation of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and visual quality.
• Refinement of sequences based on quality and acquisition time, validated on multi-vendor scanners.

Main Results:

• A final protocol combining 2D turbo-spin-echo and 3D SPACE T1, SPACE STIR, and VIBE DIXON sequences was developed.
• Specific recommendations for imaging planes, FOV, resolution, fat/blood suppression, and acceleration are provided.
• The protocol demonstrated successful translation and comparable image quality across different vendor scanners.

Conclusions:

• An optimized and reproducible 1.5 T brachial plexus MRI protocol is presented.
• The study details the impact of parameters on image quality and scan time, addressing artifacts.
• This protocol serves as a valuable resource for radiologists of all experience levels.