The study shows a significant improvement in MRI image quality
A comparison of traditional positioning aids and the Pearltec Multipad in uncooperative patients and patients with involuntary movements
Dr. Melanie Fukui et al., Department of Neuroradiology, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, December 2013Background
Repeat MRI scans due to motion artifacts cost time and money. A study based on 192 scans, conducted by Andre et al. [1], found that 59% of the sequences examined exhibited visible motion artifacts, resulting in repeat scans for nearly one in five patients. Andre et al. conclude that “more attention and resources should be devoted to providing practical solutions to this dilemma.” Consequently, an optimized patient positioning system is crucial. In this study conducted at Allegheny General Hospital, the use of Pearltec’s Multipad was compared to traditional positioning aids during brain MRI exams.
Objective
To evaluate the impact of the Pearltec Multipad compared to traditional positioning aids in terms of image quality during MRI scans performed on uncooperative patients and patients with involuntary movements.
Materials and Methods
To evaluate the feasibility of eliminating motion artifacts, a user study was conducted at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, where brain MRI scans were performed on uncooperative patients and patients exhibiting involuntary movements (n=22 subjects). Initially, the scans were performed using traditional positioning aids. The scans were then repeated using the Pearltec Multipad (Figure 1).
Fig. 1: Pearltec Multipad used in the study.
The scans were performed on a Siemens Avanto or Symphony MRI system. Finally, Dr. Melanie Fukui, a specialist in neuroradiology and diagnostic radiology, evaluated the scans using a 5-point scale designed to account for the impact of motion artifacts on the diagnostic quality of the images. Ghosting artifacts, artifacts other than ghosting, the sharpness of brain contours, image noise, and overall image quality were assessed.
Results
The study was conducted on 22 patients. Examinations using traditional positioning aids produced images with moderate to severe artifacts, with one in four measurements deemed non-diagnostic. In contrast, examinations using the Pearltec Multipad generated images of diagnostic quality. Overall image quality improved from an average of 1.0 (moderate to severe artifacts) to an average of 3.0 (minimal image artifacts). For 8 of the 22 patients, including an 83-year-old male patient, the images obtained were deemed artifact-free (Figure 2).
Fig. 2: Comparison of image quality in a brain scan of an 83-year-old male patient. The first scan used conventional foam (left side), while the second scan used Pearltec’s Multipad (right side).
Fig. 3: Results showing images that are virtually free of artifacts thanks to Pearltec Multipads.
Overall, the severity of ghosting artifacts decreased from 1.0 to 2.9. Artifacts other than ghosting decreased from 1.15 to 3.0; brain contour sharpness increased from 1.05 to 3.2, and image noise decreased from 1.0 to 3.1, where 0 corresponds to severe image artifacts and 4 to minimal artifacts.
Conclusion
Motion artifacts are the most common cause of image degradation in MRI, particularly in uncooperative patients and those with involuntary movements. Examinations using traditional positioning aids have produced images containing severe motion artifacts, which are considered non-diagnostic. In contrast, scans performed with the Pearltec Multipad have produced diagnostic-quality images that are virtually artifact-free. The Pearltec Multipad offers an opportunity to overcome motion artifacts, improve image quality, and achieve a new standard of diagnostic quality.
1) Towards Quantifying the Prevalence, Severity, and Cost Associated With Patient Motion During Clinical MR Examinations. Andre, Jalal B. et al. Journal of the American College of Radiology, Volume 12, Issue 7, 689–695