Radiology, Vol 153, 203-206, Copyright © 1984 by Radiological Society of North America
Automated MR image synthesis: feasibility studies
SJ Riederer, SA Suddarth, SA Bobman, JN Lee, HZ Wang and JR MacFall
The authors describe an automated technique of magnetic resonance (MR)
image synthesis. Given a specific pulse sequence, MR signals are acquired
for several pulse delay and/or repetition times and used to compute images
of intrinsic parameters T1, T2, and N(H). Both the computed images and
operator-specified pulse delay and repetition times are then used to
"synthesize" a new image based on equations descriptive of MR signal
behavior and comparable to that acquired by using the operator-specified
parameters in an actual MR study. Instrumentation enabling rapid
operator-interactive generation of synthesized images is described and
initial results presented, allowing for dependence of the signal on T2 in
spin echo images. Extension to full T1, T2, and N(H) dependence for
arbitrary pulse sequences is described. Major advantages of this technique
include retrospective optimization of contrast between arbitrary materials,
rapid and systematic image analysis, and reduced scanning time; potential
limitations include accuracy, noise, motion artifacts, and multicomponent
behavior.
