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MRI Brain : Protocol and Planning

Common Indications for MRI of the Brain

Please check our new video tutorial for protocols and planning

Contraindications

Patient preparation for MRI brain

Positioning for MRI brain

mri brain planning and positioning

Recommended MRI Brain Protocols and Planning

Brain localiser

A three-plane localizer must be taken at the beginning to localize and plan the sequences. Localizers are usually less than 25 seconds and are T1-weighted low-resolution scans.

Brain MRI localiser image

T2 tse axial

Plan the axial slices on the sagittal plane and position the block parallel to the genu and splenium of the corpus callosum. Verify the planning block in the other two planes and ensure that an appropriate angle is maintained in the coronal plane, making it perpendicular to the line of the midline of the brain and the 4th ventricle. Ensure that the number of slices is sufficient to cover the entire brain from the vertex to the line of the foramen magnum.

mri brain protocol and planning of axial scans

Protocol Parameters of T2

TR

4000-5500

TE

100-120

SLICE

3MM

FLIP

130-150

PHASE

R>L

MATRIX

320X320

FOV

210-230

GAP

10%

NEX(AVRAGE)

2

T2 FLAIR axial

Plan the axial slices on the sagittal plane and position the block parallel to the genu and splenium of the corpus callosum. Verify the planning block in the other two planes and ensure that an appropriate angle is maintained in the coronal plane, making it perpendicular to the line of the midline of the brain and the 4th ventricle. Ensure that the number of slices is sufficient to cover the entire brain from the vertex to the line of the foramen magnum.

mri brain protocol and planning of axial scans

Protocol Parameters of FLAIR

TR

7000-9000

TE

110

FLIP

130

NEX

2

SLICE

3MM

MATRIX

320X320

FOV

210-230

PHASE

R>L

GAP

10%

TI

2500

RESOLVE DWI axial

Plan the axial slices on the sagittal plane and position the block parallel to the genu and splenium of the corpus callosum. Verify the planning block in the other two planes and ensure that an appropriate angle is maintained in the coronal plane, making it perpendicular to the line of the midline of the brain and the 4th ventricle. Ensure that the number of slices is sufficient to cover the entire brain from the vertex to the line of the foramen magnum.

mri brain protocol and planning of axial scans

RESOLVE DWI: RESOLVE is an advanced technique used to obtain high-quality and high-resolution DWI (diffusion-weighted imaging) images, particularly in body regions affected by susceptibility artifacts. It offers sharp imaging with minimal distortions and provides excellent spatial resolution. RESOLVE is especially valuable for evaluating smaller lesions in a wide range of DWI and DTI (diffusion tensor imaging) examinations. By combining RESOLVE with Simultaneous Multi-Slice (SMS) acceleration, acquisition time can be significantly reduced, improving both speed and imaging capabilities. RESOLVE finds application in various clinical fields, including neurology, oncology, and pediatric imaging. Its outstanding balance between imaging speed and quality makes it superior to other diffusion-weighted imaging sequences. Benefits of RESOLVE include high-quality DWI and DTI, reduced susceptibility and blurring artifacts, insensitivity to motion-induced phase errors, lower specific absorption rate (SAR) compared to TSE-based methods, and compatibility with iPAT for faster scans and further reduced distortions.

Protocol Parameters of RESOLVE DWI

TR

7000-9000

TE

70 115

FLIP

180

NXA

1    2

SLICE

3MM

MATRIX

192X192

FOV

210-230

PHASE

R>L

GAP

10%

B VALUE

0
1000

T1 SE coronal

Plan the coronal slices on the sagittal plane and angle the planning block perpendicular to the line along the genu and splenium of the corpus callosum. Verify the planning block in the other two planes. Ensure that an appropriate angle is maintained in the axial plane, perpendicular to the midline of the brain. The number of slices should be sufficient to cover the entire brain from the frontal sinus to the line of the occipital protuberance.

mri brain protocol and planning of coronal scansscans

Protocol Parameters of T1

TR

500-700

TE

15-25

SLICE

3MM

FLIP

90

PHASE

R>L

MATRIX

304X304

FOV

210-230

GAP

10%

NEX(AVRAGE)

2

T2 tse sagittal

Plan the sagittal slices on the axial plane and position the block parallel to the midline of the brain. Verify the planning block in the other two planes. Angle the planning block appropriately in the coronal plane, ensuring it is parallel to the line along the midline of the brain and the 4th ventricle. Make sure that the number of slices is sufficient to cover the entire brain from one temporal lobe to the other.

mri brain protocol and planning of sagittal scans

Protocol Parameters of T2 Sagittal

TR

4500-6000

TE

100-120

SLICE

3MM

FLIP

130-150

PHASE

A>P

MATRIX

320X304

FOV

210-230

GAP

10%

NEX(AVRAGE)

2

Indications for contrast-enhanced brain scan

For post-contrast brain imaging, use T1 SE axial and coronal sequences after the administration of IV gadolinium DTPA injection (copy the planning outlined above). The document below provides access to the recommended dosage of gadolinium DTPA injection, as advised by the manufacturer.
Optional Scans

Optional epi DWI planning for the old generation scanners

DWI epi 3 scan trace axial

To minimize air-bone interface artifacts, plan the DWI axial slices on the sagittal plane with the planning block angled parallel to the line connecting the glabella and the foramen magnum. It is important to note that older generation scanners can create such artifacts. For epi DWI scans, a different angle is used compared to other axial scans, aligning it with the glabella and foramen magnum. Make sure to verify the planning block in the other two planes and determine an appropriate angle in the coronal plane that is perpendicular to the line of the 3rd ventricle and brainstem. Additionally, ensure that the slices adequately cover the entire brain from the vertex to the foramen magnum.

mri brain protocol and planning of axial DWI scans

Protocol Parameters of epi DWI

TR

7000-9000

TE

110

FLIP

130

NXA

4

SLICE

4MM

MATRIX

192X192

FOV

210-230

PHASE

R>L

GAP

10%

B VALUE

0
500
1000