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Quality Assurance of Clinical MRI Scanners Using ACR MRI Phantom: Preliminary Results

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Abstract

Clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners play an important role in the diagnosis of diseases and management of patient treatment. Quality assurance (QA) of the clinical MRI scanners is mandatory to obtain optimal images in a modern hospital. In this report, the phantom test for the American College of Radiology (ACR) MRI accreditation is used as the essential part of the MRI QA protocols. Seven important assessments of MR image quality are included as follows: geometric accuracy, high-contrast resolution, slice thickness accuracy, slice position accuracy, image intensity uniformity, percent signal ghosting, and low-contrast object detectability. In addition, signal-to-noise ratio and central frequency are monitored as well. The MRI QA procedures were applied to four clinical MRI scanners in our institute twice within 3 months. According to the QA results, the service engineers were more efficient in solving scanners problems when the ACR phantom test was run.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRI Center, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital; School of Medical Technology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Chien-Chuan Chen MS, Yung-Liang Wan MD, Yau-Yau Wai MD & Ho-Ling Liu PhD

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  1. Chien-Chuan Chen MS
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  2. Yung-Liang Wan MD
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  3. Yau-Yau Wai MD
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  4. Ho-Ling Liu PhD
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Correspondence to Ho-Ling Liu PhD .

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Chen, CC., Wan, YL., Wai, YY. et al. Quality Assurance of Clinical MRI Scanners Using ACR MRI Phantom: Preliminary Results. J Digit Imaging 17, 279–284 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10278-004-1023-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10278-004-1023-5

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