Back to Basics: Data Acquisition, Processing, and Storage in MRI

Heidi Veillette, BSc, RT(R)(MR)*

^*Medical Writer, Veillette Communications; Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Address correspondence to: Heidi@VeilletteCommunications.com

Disclosure statement: The author reports having no significant financial or advisory relationships with corporate organizations related to this activity.

ABSTRACT

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences use radiofrequency pulses and magnetic field gradients to create high-quality anatomical images of the human body. Understanding the basics of MRI data acquisition, image processing, and secure image transfer provide a strong foundation for radiologic technologists (RTs) to produce accurate images for diagnosis. This course will begin with an overview of the 3 main imaging sequences including spin-echo, inversion recovery, and gradient-echo pulse sequences and the approaches to altering these sequences to produce the desired image weighting. The basic parameters and applications of advanced pulse sequences will be discussed, including echo-planar imaging, susceptibility-weighted imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, perfusion, and spectroscopy. Blood flow dynamics and the parameters of the 3 main angiography methods, time-of-flight, phase contrast, and contrast-enhanced imaging, will be introduced. Various methods of raw data collection in k-space and mathematical transformation into the final image will be explored. Postprocessing methods of manipulating data to enhance the final images, including the maximum intensity projection, multiplanar reformation, subtraction, apparent diffusion coefficient maps, and cine methods will be covered. Finally, the essential aspects of picture archival communication systems (PACS)/medical image management and processing system (MIMPS), Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM), and image storage and retrieval will be detailed along with a discussion of data security and confidentiality.