Technological Advances of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Today's Health Care Environment

Abstract

Today's health care environment is shifting rapidly, driven by demographic change and high economic pressures on the system. Furthermore, modern precision medicine requires highly accurate and specific disease diagnostics in a short amount of time. Future imaging technology must adapt to these challenges. Demographic change necessitates scanner technologies tailored to the needs of an aging and increasingly multimorbid patient population. Accordingly, examination times have to be short enough that diagnostic images can be generated even for patients who can only lie in the scanner for a short time because of pain or with low breath-hold capacity. For economic reasons, the rate of nondiagnostic scans due to artifacts should be reduced as far as possible. As imaging plays an increasingly pivotal role in clinical-therapeutic decision making, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging facilities are confronted with an ever-growing number of patients, emphasizing the need for faster acquisitions while maintaining image quality. Lastly, modern precision medicine requires high and standardized image quality as well as quantifiable data in order to develop image-based biomarkers on which subsequent treatment management can rely. In recent decades, a variety of approaches have addressed the challenges of high throughput, demographic change, and precision medicine in MR imaging. These include field strength, gradient, coil and sequence development, as well as an increasing consideration of artificial intelligence. This article reviews state-of-the art MR technology and discusses future implementation from the perspective of what we know today.

Influence of Image Processing on Radiomic Features From Magnetic Resonance Imaging

“…2,5,39 Although the IBSI has made efforts to standardize the ensemble of mathematical formulas for feature computation, the necessity for standardization and harmonization of image acquisition, reconstruction, and segmentation remains, as small perturbations in this regard cause loss in feature robustness and repeatability/reproducibility. 3 In particular with respect to the qualitative nature of most MRI sequences, we wanted to address the question whether and how standardized image processing before feature extraction can improve feature stability and as such facilitate the comparability of radiomics studies abiding by the reporting guidelines. 4 To this end, we acquired a test-retest dataset on a phantom featuring 3 of the most commonly used, nonquantitative, clinical MRI sequences on a 3 T scanner, namely, a T1w, a T2w, and a FLAIR sequence, each at high and low resolution, and systematically carried out various image processing steps.…”

“…Utilizing machine learning algorithms, the emerging field of radiomics aims at analyzing quantitative features derived from medical images to characterize tissue, for example, tumor phenotypes, in an automated, high-throughput manner and support clinical decision making. 1,2 Although clinical interest in radiomics and its implementation has been growing steadily, 3 published studies are often difficult to reproduce and validate because of the lack of standardized definitions and insufficient reporting. [4][5][6][7][8][9] The Image Biomarker Standardization Initiative (IBSI) has worked toward standardization of the radiomic feature extraction process, emphasizing the challenges of repeatability, reproducibility, and validation of studies in quantitative image analysis and radiomics.…”

Visual and quantitative assessment of hip implant-related metal artifacts at low field MRI: a phantom study comparing a 0.55-T system with 1.5-T and 3-T systems

“…The diagnostic capabilities of MRI have been proven to be superior to ultrasound and computed tomography in this setting, especially when aiming to detect and quantify muscle atrophy, pseudotumors, and other soft tissue changes [7][8][9]. This further emphasizes the key role of MRI in future imaging musculoskeletal diagnostic pathways.…”

The Clinical Utility of Magnetic Resonance Imaging According to Field Strength, Specifically Addressing the Breadth of Current State-of-the-Art Systems, Which Include 0.55 T, 1.5 T, 3 T, and 7 T

“…Three-dimensional (3D) time-of-flight MR angiography (TOF MRA) images are presented for the 4 field strengths (Figs. 5,6). Diagnostic images are presented in each case, although image quality increases with each higher step in main magnetic field strength (Fig.…”