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Obese patients in an open MRI at 1.0 Tesla: image quality, diagnostic impact and feasibility

  • Magnetic Resonance
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Abstract

Objective

To investigate the performance of an open MRI system at its conceptual limits by examining excessively obese patients who otherwise could not receive adequate imaging examinations.

Methods

Twenty-six excessively obese patients (BMI ≥ 35, average age 46) where CT, standard MR or ultrasound examinations were not possible or not conclusive were referred to an open MRI system at 1.0 Tesla. Image quality was measured by SNR and CNR with the integrated body coil for obese patients and optimal body coils for a regular weight control group (average BMI 23, average age 30). MRI findings were evaluated by a diagnostic impact matrix.

Results

SNR and CNR were generally lower in obese patients when the integrated body coil was used compared to the normal weight group with ideal body coils e.g.: For cerebral imaging T2W TSE (<5% for white matter, ca. 30% for grey matter) and T1W SE (ca. 15% for white matter, <5% for grey matter), for spinal imaging T2W TSE (ca. 35% for disc and vertebral body) and T1W SE (about 2% for disc, ca. 10% for vertebral body). Relevant new diagnoses impacting patient’s therapy were identified in 30% (8/26), the particular medical question of the referring physician could be ruled out as possible reason for the medical condition in 53% (14/26).

Conclusion

In excessively obese patients where CT, standard MR or ultrasound examination is not possible or not conlusive open MRI system have great potential in diagnostic evaluation, offering lower but sufficient image quality to impact therapy.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the TSB Technologiestiftung Berlin—Zukunftsfonds Berlin, Berlin, Germany, and the European Union—European Fund for Regional Development, Berlin, Germany. We grant for full disclosure of any potential relationship with industry, and all of us have nothing to disclose in relation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Charité—University Medicine Berlin, Charité Platz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany

    Maximilian de Bucourt, Florian Streitparth, Uta Wonneberger, Jens Rump & Ulf Teichgräber

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  1. Maximilian de Bucourt
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  2. Florian Streitparth
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  3. Uta Wonneberger
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Correspondence to Maximilian de Bucourt.

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de Bucourt, M., Streitparth, F., Wonneberger, U. et al. Obese patients in an open MRI at 1.0 Tesla: image quality, diagnostic impact and feasibility. Eur Radiol 21, 1004–1015 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-010-2005-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-010-2005-2

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