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Signal to noise ratio and uncertainty in diffusion tensor imaging at 1.5, 3.0, and 7.0 Tesla
Author(s) -
Polders Daniel L.,
Leemans Alexander,
Hendrikse Jeroen,
Donahue Manus J.,
Luijten Peter R.,
Hoogduin Johannes M.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.22554
Subject(s) - diffusion mri , fractional anisotropy , anisotropy , nuclear magnetic resonance , field strength , signal to noise ratio (imaging) , tensor (intrinsic definition) , signal (programming language) , noise (video) , physics , tractography , eigenvalues and eigenvectors , diffusion , computational physics , computer science , mathematics , magnetic resonance imaging , optics , medicine , artificial intelligence , magnetic field , radiology , geometry , quantum mechanics , image (mathematics) , programming language , thermodynamics
Purpose: To compare diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measurements at ultra high field strength (7 Tesla [T]) in human volunteers with DTI measurements performed at 1.5 and 3 Tesla. Materials and Methods: The signal to noise ratio (SNR) and the uncertainty in fitted DTI parameters fractional anisotropy and primary eigenvector are assessed with tractography based regions of interest, measured in nine volunteers at 1.5T, 3T, and 7T with clinically available hardware configurations. Results: An increase in SNR is observed on the 7T system compared with the 1.5 or 3T system. The measured increase in SNR at 7T is larger than expected from field strength alone, indicating the large influence of improved receive coil hardware. Additionally, while the average fractional anisotropy remains relatively constant across field strengths, a decrease in uncertainty in the fitted values for fractional anisotropy and the principal eigenvector of the DTI tensor was found. Increased spatial heterogeneity of signal intensities is observed at 7T. Conclusion: Given the current hardware constraints, DTI at ultra‐high field strengths is possible with improved performance in selected regions of interest. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;33:1456–1463. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.