Cervical MRI Image Quality Optimization based on Repetition Time (TR) and Echo Train Length (ETL) Settings

In radiodiagnostics, the MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) modality is used to help establish a diagnosis, mainly by providing more accurate information about anatomical relationships and pathological abnormalities of the object being examined. This study was conducted at the Brain Clinic in Surabaya with a 3 Tesla MRI device. In addition, T2 weighting of the FSE (Fast Spin Echo) sequence was also used in the sagittal cervical MRI examination, with TR (Time Repetition) values of 3000 ms, 4000 ms, and ETLs (Echo Train Length) of 16, 20, and 24, respectively. This study used organ signals from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), spinal cord (SC), vertebral body (VB), disc intervertebral (DI), and bone edge boundary (BEB). Data analysis in this study by determining the ROI (Region Of Interest) value of the object and background to determine the effect of the sequence on the value of SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio), CNR (Contras to Noise Ratio), and time scanning in each organ. This study obtained the optimal SNR value for cervical MRI T2-FSE sequences at TR 4000 ms and ETL 20 variations. Meanwhile, the optimal CNR value in the CSF-SC and CSF-BEB is at TR 4000 ms and ETL 20, and the CNR in the VB-DI is at TR 4000 ms and ETL 16. Variations in the combination of TR and ETL have different effects. TR variation significantly affects SNR and CNR values in specific organs. Meanwhile, variations in ETL values do not considerably affect SNR and CNR values.