Mohammad Samim1, Mahesh Bharath Keerthivasan2, Iman Khodarahmi1, Marisa Ilag1, Mary Bruno1, Hersh Chandrana1, Inge Brinkmann2, and Jan Fritz1
1Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States, 2Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc, Malvern, PA, United States
1Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States, 2Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc, Malvern, PA, United States
High-performance, low-field-strength 0.55-T MRI of the lumbar
spine can produce similarly high SNR and CNR, image quality, and visualization
of anatomical structures compared to 1.5T MRI, regardless of 25mT/m or 45mT/m
gradient system performance.
Figure
1. MRI studies of the lumbar spine obtained at 0.55T with a maximum gradient
strength of 25 mT/m and slew rate of 40 T/m/s2, 0.55T with a maximum
gradient strength of 45 mT/m and slew rate of 200 T/m/s2, and 1.5T
with a maximum gradient strength of 45 mT/m and slew rate of 200 T/m/s2.
MR images demonstrate an L4-L5 disc protrusion (arrows), causing thecal sac
deformity and left lateral recess narrowing
Figure 2. MRI studies of the lumbar spine obtained at 0.55T
with a maximum gradient strength of 25 mT/m and slew rate of 40 T/m/s2,
0.55T with a maximum gradient strength of 45 mT/m and slew rate of 200 T/m/s2,
and 1.5T with a maximum gradient strength of 45 mT/m and slew rate of 200 T/m/s2.
MR images demonstrate congenital lumbar spinal stenosis with epidural
lipomatosis causing thecal sac narrowing (arrows) to various degrees.