Field Map Method for Field Homogeneity Monitoring Using An Automated QA Tool

David R. Little,
Susan K. Lemieux, M. Wasil Wahi-Anwar, Amanda Gearhart Pennsylvania State University Department of Physics and SLEIC
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Field Inhomogeneity
Images may suffer from field inhomogeneities that can cause geometric distortion. A flat field is particularly important for BOLD-EPI. Included inhomogeneity measurement in automated QA routine Check distribution to set QA limits

Undistorted

X-shim altered

Y-shim altered

Methods: MRI Phase Difference Maps Df (Hz) = df (radians) 1 - 1 . TE1 TE2 2p

Use Siemens gradient-echo field map sequence: TR = 500 ms TE = 4.9 ms,7.4 ms BW = 890 Hz/pixel flip angle = 70 degrees FOV = 256 mm resolution = 1 mm x 1 mm x 5 mm Pulse sequence outputs image scaled from 0-4096 which represents the phase difference from -p to + p

Methods: MRI Phase Difference Maps

Convert DICOM data to NIFTI (Rorden dcm2nii). Import NIFTI data into Matlab (Shen toolbox). Calculate frequency difference images.

TE = 4.9ms

TE=7.9ms

Phase Difference Map

Methods: Diameter Spherical Volume (DSV)

Calculated peak-to-peak and RMS for DSV in each plane

Results: frequency shift maps

Axial
RMS = 4.83 Hz

Sagittal
RMS = 9.72 Hz

Coronal
RMS = 9.80 Hz

The 1mm x 1mm x 5mm spatial resolution results in frequency shifts that are larger in the sagittal and coronal plane.

Results: RMS inhomogeneity

Mean = 4.83 +/- 2.77 Lilliefors test for normality cannot reject normal distribution at P<0.001

Results: Peak to Peak Inhomogeneity

Mean = 17.6 +/- 12.8 Lilliefors test for normality cannot reject normal distribution at P<0.001

Discussion/Conclusions
Inhomogeneities in the magnetic field cause geometric distortion. A measurement of field inhomogeneity can be obtained by a component of our automated quality assurance routine. The value obtained for field inhomogeneity is additionally analyzed to establish whether or not it is within the acceptable range.
Use 1 sigma as warning Use 2 sigma as an alarm

Future Directions
These data were all acquired using the scanner autoshim routine. Another field map scan will be acquired using the previous preventive maintenance (PM) tune-up shim values to measure the frequency shift since the last PM.

Conclusions & Future Work

The inhomogeneity component of our automated QA program successfully calculates and analyzes the extent of magnetic field inhomogeneity in an MRI. This research is pending publication, but should significantly expedite the rate at which quality assurance can be completed, thus increasing the odds that the protocol will be followed.