NEMA Publishes MS 3-2008 Determination of Image Uniformity in Diagnostic Magnetic Resonance Images
by Barbara Kram, Editor | June 03, 2008
This NEMA publication
helps establish
a baseline for
MRI images
helps establish
a baseline for
MRI images
ROSSLYN, Va.-- The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published MS 3-2008 Determination of Image Uniformity in Diagnostic Magnetic Resonance Images. It was produced by the Magnetic Resonance Section of MITA (Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance), a division of NEMA. It is one of a series of test standards developed by the medical diagnostic imaging industry for the measurement of performance parameters governing image quality of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems.
According to Michael Steckner of the magnetic resonance section that developed the standard, MS 3 prescribes a method for measuring the non-uniformity of magnetic resonance images in order to characterize the low spatial frequency non-uniformities typical of such images.
"It is important to quantify image non-uniformity because of the impact it has on image quality," Steckner said. "This standard characterizes image non-uniformity qualitatively with a gray-scale uniformity map and quantitatively with simple figures of merit that analyze the range of pixel intensities relative to some measure of the average image intensity. This newly revised standard now permits the ACR-MRAP and IEC performance standard methods for determining image uniformity, both methods being more robust against variations in measurement SNR."
To make this standard consistent with the structure of related standards, it covers single-channel volume coils exclusively. This edition has been modified to permit the gray-scale map definition of NEMA MS-6 Determination of Signal-to-Noise Ratio and Image Uniformity for Single-channel Non-Volume Coils in Diagnostic MR Imaging for added flexibility.
An electronic copy of NEMA MS 3-2008 may be downloaded at no charge, or a hard copy may be purchased for $48, by visiting NEMA's Web site at http://www.nema.org/stds/ms3.cfm, or by contacting IHS at 800-854-7179 (within the U.S.), 303-397-7956 (international), 303-397-2740 (fax), or on the Web at global.ihs.com.
NEMA is the trade association of choice for the electrical manufacturing industry. Founded in 1926 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., its approximately 450 member companies manufacture products used in the generation, transmission and distribution, control, and end-use of electricity. These products are used in utility, medical imaging, industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential applications. Domestic production of electrical products sold worldwide exceeds $120 billion. In addition to its headquarters in Rosslyn, Virginia, NEMA also has offices in Beijing, Sao Paulo, and Mexico City.
According to Michael Steckner of the magnetic resonance section that developed the standard, MS 3 prescribes a method for measuring the non-uniformity of magnetic resonance images in order to characterize the low spatial frequency non-uniformities typical of such images.
"It is important to quantify image non-uniformity because of the impact it has on image quality," Steckner said. "This standard characterizes image non-uniformity qualitatively with a gray-scale uniformity map and quantitatively with simple figures of merit that analyze the range of pixel intensities relative to some measure of the average image intensity. This newly revised standard now permits the ACR-MRAP and IEC performance standard methods for determining image uniformity, both methods being more robust against variations in measurement SNR."
To make this standard consistent with the structure of related standards, it covers single-channel volume coils exclusively. This edition has been modified to permit the gray-scale map definition of NEMA MS-6 Determination of Signal-to-Noise Ratio and Image Uniformity for Single-channel Non-Volume Coils in Diagnostic MR Imaging for added flexibility.
An electronic copy of NEMA MS 3-2008 may be downloaded at no charge, or a hard copy may be purchased for $48, by visiting NEMA's Web site at http://www.nema.org/stds/ms3.cfm, or by contacting IHS at 800-854-7179 (within the U.S.), 303-397-7956 (international), 303-397-2740 (fax), or on the Web at global.ihs.com.
NEMA is the trade association of choice for the electrical manufacturing industry. Founded in 1926 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., its approximately 450 member companies manufacture products used in the generation, transmission and distribution, control, and end-use of electricity. These products are used in utility, medical imaging, industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential applications. Domestic production of electrical products sold worldwide exceeds $120 billion. In addition to its headquarters in Rosslyn, Virginia, NEMA also has offices in Beijing, Sao Paulo, and Mexico City.
