[Quality control in magnetic resonance for clinical use]

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging Physics
• Biomedical Spectroscopy
• Quality Assurance in Healthcare

Context:

• Clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) require rigorous quality control for reliable diagnostic information.
• International efforts have focused on standardizing protocols to ensure consistent and accurate instrumental performance.
• European Economic Communities (EEC) and National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) have played key roles in developing these standards.

Purpose:

• To summarize the evolution of international quality control protocols for clinical MRI and MRS.
• To detail the methodologies and test objects developed for assessing instrumental performance in MRI and MRS.
• To highlight the importance of accurate quality assessment for enhancing the clinical value of MRI and MRS.

Summary:

• Standardized methodologies and test objects have been developed for assessing fourteen instrumental parameters in MRI, including signal uniformity, geometry, spatial resolution, and signal-to-noise ratios.
• Protocols for assessing signal uniformity, geometric distortion, and signal-to-noise ratio in MRI, as adopted by EEC and NEMA, are discussed.
• Eleven instrumental performance parameters, two test objects, and measurement protocols for quality control in single-volume localized MRS are presented, based on multi-centre trial validation.

Impact:

• Enhanced clinical value of MRI and MRS through improved anatomical and physio-pathological information.
• Standardized quality control ensures greater reliability and comparability of imaging data across different institutions.
• Facilitates the adoption and validation of advanced imaging techniques in clinical practice.