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Spatial, Temporal Resolution and Signal-to-Noise Ratio

  • Chapter
Basic Principles of Cardiovascular MRI

Abstract

Spatial resolution and temporal resolution refer to the smallest distance and temporal change that can be differentiated. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is a reflection of signal intensity with reference to the background noise. In cardiac MR imaging, it is desirable to acquire images that have adequate spatial resolution to resolve fine structures in the heart, sufficient temporal resolution to visualize cardiac motion, and high SNR for good image quality. This chapter first covers spatial resolution in MRI, its relationship to k-space, the difference between nominal and apparent spatial resolution, and factors that affect spatial resolution. The chapter then discusses temporal resolution and image acquisition methods that can be used to change/improve temporal resolution, including view-sharing, segmented imaging, and real-time imaging. Finally, the chapter covers SNR and sources of noise, factors affecting SNR, how to measure SNR, and the tradeoffs between SNR, spatial resolution and temporal resolution.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    For some applications, the reference frame may be acquired during or at the end of the actual acquisition.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MR R&D, Siemens Healthcare, Columbus, OH, USA

    Ning Jin PhD

  2. MR R&D, Siemens Healthcare, Chicago, IL, USA

    Haris Saybasili PhD

  3. MR R&D, Siemens Healthcare, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Xiaoming Bi PhD

Authors
  1. Ning Jin PhD
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  2. Haris Saybasili PhD
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  3. Xiaoming Bi PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ning Jin PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois, USA

    Mushabbar A. Syed

  2. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA

    Subha V. Raman

  3. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA

    Orlando P. Simonetti

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© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Jin, N., Saybasili, H., Bi, X. (2015). Spatial, Temporal Resolution and Signal-to-Noise Ratio. In: Syed, M., Raman, S., Simonetti, O. (eds) Basic Principles of Cardiovascular MRI. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22141-0_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22141-0_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-22140-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-22141-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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