MRI Protocols: Basics, Optimization, and Management
Description
Supporting MR protocol design, optimization, and management is an important role for a diagnostic medical physicist. However, unless a physicist has extensive MR training, these tasks can feel overwhelming due to the breadth and variety of MR protocol types, pulse sequences, sequence options, clinical indications, and vendor-specific variations. The goal of this session is to provide frameworks for understanding MR protocols and their management that are as approachable and generalizable as possible, to make them accessible for physicists new to working in MR. First, basic clinical sequences will be described, including what makes them unique from other sequences, what radiologists are looking for when they review that sequence, and how a series of sequences is put together to make a complete exam for a clinical indication. Next, methods for basic sequence optimization for image quality and speed, and dissemination to manage protocols at the institution or health system level will be discussed. Finally, protocol modification techniques for MR safety cases, for example in patients with implants where MR conditions such as SAR, B1+rms, or active scan time are limited or artifacts are of concern, will be presented.