There are two different methods with AiCE to benefit from the adaptive noise reduction: one is for high-resolution imaging without extending the scan time, the other is for high-acceleration imaging maintaining the image quality. In terms of the former, AiCE allows to acquire 1 mm-slice 2D images for examinations of the small extremities such as the finger and the wrist joints. According to Mr. Chatani, it previously took a long scan time even to acquire 3 mm-slice 2D images on the previous system, but AiCE enables to acquire thinner-slice and higher-resolution images without extending the scan time on Vantage Fortian as well as their 3T system. In contrast, for spine examinations, the highly-accelerated protocols are adopted maintaining the same spatial resolution as the previous. Mr. Chatani says that when sagittal T1- and T2-weighted images and axial T2-weighted images are acquired in the spine examinations, AiCE reduces the total scan time by more than 5 minutes on Vantage Fortian compared with the previous system. Nevertheless, the image quality is comparable to that acquired on their 3T system. He notes that AiCE greatly broadens the options for higher image quality or higher acceleration in MRI examinations depending on the situation.
Furthermore, Fast 3D mode, which is one of the acceleration techniques for 3D acquisition, has been used to accelerate head MRA in combination with AiCE. The combination allows to acquire higher-resolution MRA images without extending the scan time and improves the depiction of vascular structures, Mr. Chatani also says that the combined use of AiCE and Fast 3D mode permits to acquire high-resolution MRA images on Vantage Fortian in almost the same scan time as on their 3T system. Due to inflow effects in MRA, there are generally differences of the depiction of vascular lesions, e.g., microaneurysms and vascular stenosis, between 1.5T and 3T systems. Hence, their 3T system would often be employed in these cases. However, Vantage Fortian has recently compensated for their 3T system in the examinations for those cases. Dr. Yusaku Moribata, Head of the Department of Diagnostic Radiology, observes that Vantage Fortian provides improved overall image quality. Especially in head MRA, it allows blood vessels to be clearly depicted and the morphological characteristics of aneurysms to be precisely evaluated. In addition to head MRA, neck MRA is often requested by the Department of Neurosurgery. Large FOV images for neck MRA are usually required including the upper section of the aortic arch, but the combination of AiCE and Fast 3D mode enables to acquire them in a short scan time of about 2 minutes. Other than Fast 3D mode, Vantage Fortian incorporates a variety of acceleration techniques such as Compressed SPEEDER, all of which can be used in combination with AiCE. Mr. Chatani observes that as an added value of AiCE, the combination with various acceleration techniques reduces the scan time while maintaining the image quality, and that results in minimizing motion artifacts generated by uterine peristalsis in gynecological examinations. Mr. Chatani is amazed by the fact that AiCE allows to perform routine gynecological examinations without using radial sampling to correct body motion artifacts, which typically affects overall image contrast unlike Cartesian sampling.