Abstract #1987

Optimization of the MPRAGE Sequence for Fully Automatic Brain Volumetry and a Comparison of Reproducibility Between Two Different Phased Array Receiver Head Coils at 3 T

Love Erlandsson Nordin^1,2, Leif Svensson^1,2, Per Julin^3,4, Susanne Mller⁵, Terri Louise Lindholm^1,2

¹Medical Physics, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden; ²SMILE Image Laboratory, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden; ³AstraZeneca R&D Neuroscience, Sdertlje, Sweden; ⁴Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden; ⁵Radiology, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden

The aim of this study has been to optimize the contrast parameters of the MPRAGE sequence for fully automatic brain tissue segmentation. The goal has been to achieve as reliable and reproducible volumetric measurements of the human brain as possible. The optimization was carried out on a 3 T MRI unit using 2 different multi array head coils (12 and 32 channels) and 9 healthy young volunteers. The study also includes a comparison of the reproducibility in measurement between the two head coils. The results show that it is possible to achieve good reproducibility in measurement for the total brain volume and the 12 channel head coil gives slightly more reproducible results.