Comparison amongst pulse sequences for enhanced contrast to noise ratio in magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To provide optimised pulse sequence and imaging protocols for contrast-to-noise ratio and for tissues that have different signal intensities in magnetic resonance imaging.

METHODS: A tissue equivalent material, ferrous benzoic xylenol orange gel, was prepared using gelatine, ferrous ammonium sulfate, sulfuric acid, xylenol orange tetrasodium salt and benzoic acid. The gel was irradiated using 6MV photons from a Varian Clinac 600C linear accelerator, with a dose of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 gray. Experimental variations in imaging parameters were performed in echo time and repetition time. The quantitative analysis consisted of contrast-to-noise ratio.

RESULTS: Conventional spin echo and fast spin echo were equivalent for the tissues of comparable signal intensities and for entities moderate difference between signal intensities. Conventional spin echo provided remarkable contrast for tissues where signal intensity difference was extremely high in T1, T2-weighted study. An appropriate inversion time of fast fluid attenuated inversion recovery made it significant to measure contrast between tissues where signal intensity difference was the smallest and ordinary.

CONCLUSIONS: Choice of pulse sequence and parameters played a vital role in developing fine image contrast.