Storage of MRI data:

Data can be stored on a CD-ROM. There is free software available (MRIcro) that can convert most of the formats into DICOM.

The naming convention is:

[patient number, eight characters] [ patient initials, 3 characters] [study timepoint] [MRI]

e.g., 12345678 ABC bsl MRI

where, bsl stands for baseline

A worksheet must be completed that has the following details:

1. Study number: MRI data

2. Name of the study

3. Subject number

4. Subject initials

5. Date of MRI

6. Study timepoint of MRI

7. Format of data

8. Any deviations from protocol or other important information

Investigator name, signature, date and contact information.

T1-weighted:

Series 3: Ax/Obl T1W 45 Slices

Imag Param - 2D, Spin Echo

Scan Timing - 1 Echo, TE = 18, TR = 400

Scanning Range - FOV = 24, Slice = 3 mm, Interleave (cover whole head; 45 slices = 3 acqs)

Acq Time - FE = 256, PE = 192, FE Dir: Not Swap, Phase FOV = 0.75, 1 NEX = 1:04/3:12

{Note: This is a 3 mm slice thickness, though 4-5 mm is more standard for clinical use. 

These are noisier, but have better resolution.}

T2- and PD-weighted:

Series 5: Dual Echo (28 slices)

Imag Param - 2D, Spin Echo, Fast, Var BW

Scan Timing - ETL = 8, 2 Echoes, TE = 17 & 85, TR = 3000

Scan Setup - BW (kHz) = 7.81

Scanning Range - FOV = 24, Slice = 5 mm, Interval = 0 mm

Acq Time - FE = 256, PE = 256, FE Dir: Not Swap, Phase FOV = 1.0, 1 NEX = 3:18;

2 Acq = 6:36

{The scanner can get only 14 slices in the TR, so it needs two "acquisitions" to get all 28 slices to cover the whole head.  The first "acquisition" gets the odd-numbered slices, the second one gets the even-numbered slices.}

FLAIR:

Series 5: FLAIR 18 Slices

Imag Param - 2D, IR, Fast, Var BW, psd = flair

FLAIR Options - Min Acqs = 2

Scan Timing - TE = 120, TR = 10000, TI = 2400

Scan Setup - Phase Correct, BW (kHz) = 32

Scanning Range - FOV = 24, Slice = 5 mm, Interval = 0 mm

Acq Time - FE = 256, PE = 192, FE Dir: Not Swap, 1 NEX = 4:00, C-

DTI

For Isotropic imaging

b factor                                    1000

# Directions                                 15

Total b>0 images                         15

# b=0 images                                 3

# of slices                                    56

slice thickness                             2.5

slice gap                                         0

total coverage                             140

TR                                           14000

TE                                              79.7

matrix                                      88x88

FOV                                              22

Total time                                  4:40

Total images                             1008