Applied MR Techniques, Advanced Course

September 23–25, 2010
Ljubljana, SI

In order to register, please click here:

Course organiser:
Jacques Bittoun / Paris, FR

Local organiser:
Igor Kocijančič / Ljubljana, SI

Local organising committee:
- asist. mag. Dimitrij Kuhelj, dr. med. - head of Slovenian radiological society
- mag. Pavel Berden, dr. med. - head of cardiothoracic dept. UKC Ljubljana
- asist Nuška Pecaric Meglic, dr. med. - head of pediatric neuroradiological dept. UKC Ljubljana
- prim. mag. Darja Babnik Peskar, dr. med. Head of Institute of Radiology
- mag. Janez Podobnik, dipl.rad. ing - chamber of radiographers
- Miha Debelak, univ.dipl.ing. kem. ing. - Bayer Slovenia

Course venue:
University Medical Centre Ljubljana
Zaloška 7
SI - 1000 Ljubljana

Preliminary faculty:
I. Berry, J. Bittoun, S. Kwiecinski, S. Malik,
M. Markl, R. Muller, D. Pickuth, R. Sinkus, J. Tintera, Ch. Windischberger

Course duration:
Thursday morning – Saturday noon

Programme:
Please click here to download the programme as PDF!

The aim of this course:
The Advanced Course is an intense teaching course deepening all aspects discussed during the Basic Course and adding all new and fast imaging techniques, which are progressively integrated into daily practice. So a profound understanding of k-space, fast and ultrafast imaging techniques, diffusion, fMRI, perfusion and MR angiography are the key focus of the course. Participants will not only learn the mechanisms of such imaging strategies but also understand the impact of their parameters on contrast and image quality. Learning capacities are intensified by systematic recapitulation of all learning objectives in small groups together with didactically experienced experts. While lectures range from basic principles to imaging results, repetition cycles will start from images and interpret them back to basic principles. Knowledge of the basic principles of MRI is mandatory to follow the course. Thus participants should have familiarised themselves with these principles either in a Basic Course of ESMRMB or from other sources. Participants having daily experience in MR imaging of at least 6 months will benefit most from the Advanced Course. If you wish to broaden and deepen your knowledge in the field of advanced MR techniques, ESMRMB will be happy to welcome you to the Applied MR Techniques Advanced Course.

Participation Requirements:
Participants should be physicians or technicians who have either attended the ESMRMB School of MRI Basic Course (not available in 2010) or who have acquired basic knowledge in MRI techniques from other sources and are experienced in MRI (6 months minimum).

Learning Objectives

Reminder of the Basic Principles
• Magnetic field – Magnetic moment
• Nuclear spin and nuclear magnetic moment
• Magnetisation of a spin population
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
• Precession and relaxation – relaxation times
• The NMR signal and its parameters
• Discrimination of space by a magnetic field gradient
• Selective excitation
• Frequency encoding

Theory of k-space
• Fourier transformation of a time signal
• Notion of spatial frequency
• 2D-Fourier transform of an image
• Definition and properties of k-space
• Rules of k-space scanning
• Examples of k-space scanning
• Frequency and phase encoding

Basic Sequences and Contrast
• Spin-echo phenomenon
• Spin-echo sequence, equation and parameters
• Proton density, T1 and T2 weighting
• Gradient echo technique and steady state free precession (SSFP)
• Spoiling techniques and T1 contrast
• Contrast-enhanced-SSFP and T2* contrast
• Saturation pulses

Ultrafast Imaging Part I (Theory of Sequences)
• RARE sequences and contrast
• Hybrid sequences (Half-Fourier, single shot RARE)
• Singleshot and segmented ultrafast sequences (Echoplanar, spiral...)
• Parallel imaging: parallel coils, calibration, reconstruction in real space or k-space, acceleration factor and signal-to-noise ratio

Ultrafast Imaging Part II (Application)
• Use of RARE sequences
• IR-based RARE sequences
• Hybrid sequences for clinical MRI
• Clinical use of conventional and EPI based GRE sequences
• Clinical use of parallel imaging

Contrast Agents
• Basic principles of T1 and T2 modification
• Different classes of contrast agents
• Molecules and chelates
• Doses and effects
• Main classes of application

MR Angiography
• Flow phenomena in MRI: time of flight, phase
• Time of flight (TOF) MR angiography
• Phase contrast MR angiography and velocity mapping
• MR angiography using contrast agents:
• Principles
• Fast 3D imaging
• Synchronisation of imaging and injection
• Methods of bolus chasing
• Optimisation and k-space

Diffusion and Perfusion
• Principles of diffusion imaging
• Significance of the diffusion tensor
• Main applications of diffusion imaging (fibril orientation, stroke…)
• Principles of perfusion imaging
• Methods of perfusion imaging using a contrast bolus
• Methods of perfusion imaging using saturation pulses
• Main applications of perfusion imaging

Functional Brain MRI
• Physiological bases of brain activation
• Hemoglobin and T2*: BOLD contrast
• Block and event-like paradigms of activation
• Image processing methods
• Overview of the main results obtained by fMRI of the brain
• Using the BOLD-effect for pharmacological research

Perspectives:
Overview about other Contrast Techniques
• Magnetisation transfer
• Elasticity imaging
• Imaging of hyperpolarised gases
• Imaging of other nuclei
• Interventional MRI
• MR imaging and spectroscopy at 3T and above