Emerging Technology in Musculoskeletal MRI and CT

Targeted CE per ARRT’s Discipline, Category, and Subcategory classification:
[Note: Discipline-specific Targeted CE credits may be less than the total Category A credits approved for this course.]

Computed Tomography: 0.25
Image Production: 0.25
Image Formation: 0.25

Magnetic Resonance Imaging: 0.75
Image Production: 0.50
Sequence Parameters and Options: 0.25
Data Acquisition, Processing, and Storage: 0.25
Procedures: 0.25
Musculoskeletal: 0.25

Outline

1. Introduction
2. Emerging MRI Technology
   1. Conventional Accelerated MRI Reconstruction
   2. Deep Learning-Accelerated MRI Reconstruction
   3. Super-Resolution MRI Reconstruction
   4. DL MRI Synthesis
   5. Synthetic MRI
   6. Ultra-High-Field-Strength MRI
   7. Modern Low-Field-Strength MRI
   8. MR Neurography
   9. Advanced 3D MRI Scan Representation
3. Emerging CT Technology
   1. Dual-Energy CT
   2. Photon-Counting Detector CT
   3. Synthetic CT
4. Conclusion

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will:

1. describe the major determinant for adding value to musculoskeletal MRI
2. list the benefits associated with shorter musculoskeletal MRI exam times
3. explain the degree of imaging acceleration provided by MRI parallel imaging
4. explain the degree of imaging acceleration provided by compressed sensing MRI
5. describe the deconvolution process for mixed MRI signals obtained from simultaneous multislice imaging
6. identify the mathematical model used in deep learning-based reconstruction
7. compare the benefits of deep learning-based reconstruction to other acceleration methods
8. identify the body region that has been the focus of deep learning-based reconstruction research studies
9. list the benefits of super-resolution 3D MRI
10. list the MRI image sets needed to synthesize STIR images by contrast-conversion neural networks
11. describe musculoskeletal MRI applications that are commercially available
12. list the data sets needed to create synthetic MRI morphologic images
13. identify the body region that has been the focus of synthetic MRI applications
14. define ultra-high-field-strength MRI
15. list the benefits of ultra-high-field-strength MRI
16. describe the primary musculoskeletal application of ultra-high-field-strength MRI in clinical practice
17. describe the barrier to maintaining optimal flip angles on 7.0-T MRI systems
18. define low-field-strength MRI
19. explain the cause of poor image quality seen with early low-field-strength MRI systems
20. list the reasons low-field-strength MRI systems have seen a resurgence in clinical use
21. identify MRI techniques that provide optimal fat suppression when imaging the brachial plexus
22. list the areas where signal can be suppressed by most current vascular-suppression techniques
23. compare radiation dose between single- and dual-energy CT
24. list tissues that can be seen on collagen-specific images created from dual-energy CT
25. list the benefits of photon-counting detector CT systems over current CT systems
26. describe image artifacts that can be reduced when using photon-counting detector CT systems
27. identify target structures that can be imaged by ultra-short-echo-time MRI
28. list the body regions that have been evaluated by zero-echo-time MRI research studies
29. describe the application of simulated CT images derived from gradient-echo MRI studies
30. list the gradient-echo techniques used to create simulated CT images