MR imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging is one of the hardest subjects to understand in radiology physics, probably because most of the concepts are often oversimplified.
If you want to get to the "truth", then you'll need a big textbook. However, I'll be focusing on what you need to pass the exam.
The first section of this chapter covers a little on the MR machine and the various magnets and coils as this will make it easier to understand the axes and how the transverse magnetisation is produced. This is then followed by an introduction to MRI which covers the basic physics of MR needed to understand everything else. We’ve subsequently separated out the physics of MR imaging in a way we found it easiest to work through and understand.
Contents
- 1. MR machine
2. Introduction to MRI
3. T1 and T2 signal
4. Spin echo sequence
5. T1, T2 and PD weighted imaging
6. Spatial encoding
7. Slice selection
8. Frequency encoding
9. Phase encoding
10. K-space
11. Sequences
12. Spin echo sequences - Detailed
13. Gradient (recalled) echo sequence
14. Inversion recovery sequences
15. Diffusion weighted imaging
16. MR spectroscopy
17. MR angiography
18. MR contrast agents
19. MR image quality
20. MR artefacts
21. MR safety
Recommended reading
There are many different books out there on MRI imaging. No individual book is 'best' as it largely depends on your individual learning style. Having said that, MRI from Picture to Proton is excellent as it's simple to follow and easy to understand, taking you step-by-step through MRI. If you have this book, you'll be fine in the physics exam! For a comprehensive list of recommended physics books, courses and online resources, take a look at the Radiology Cafe First FRCR exam hints and tips page.
Further reading
For further clarification there are many online and paper sources of information.
- Good online textbook: www.magnetic-resonance.org
- Series of videos demonstrating the concepts by Paul Callaghan: www.youtube.com/user/magritek?feature=watch
- Easy-to-understand PDF outlining all of MRI physics: www.mri-physics.net/bin/mri-physics-en-rev1.3.pdf
