J Korean Soc Radiol.  2012 Aug;67(2):129-134. 10.3348/jksr.2012.67.2.129.

The Survey of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Quality according to Magnetic Field Strength in Korea

• Cho HH
• Paik SH
• Hwang JY
• Choi WC
• Shim JH

• KMID: 2097963
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2012.67.2.129

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study is to survey the MRI used in Korea according to the magnetic field strength (MFS), in order to evaluate the failure rate of the MRI quality assurance test, and to analyze the scores of the subsection for phantom and clinical image tests according to MFS.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
For quality assurance test in Korea from Jan 2009 to Dec 2009, 279 MRI were included in this study. The number of MRI was based according to MFS, the type of hospital, production year, and whether or not new or used equipment was from the Korea Institute Accreditation of Medical Image database. The rates of failure in the phantom/clinical image test along with the scores of the subsection, according to MFS, were analyzed.
RESULTS
In this study, there were 78 low MFS MRI out of the 279 (28%) MRI. According to MFS, the rate of failure in high contrast spatial resolution of the phantom test was not different. The rate of failure and mean scores in the low contrast object detectability of the phantom test and the mean scores of the brain clinical image test were significantly different according to MFS.
CONCLUSION
The low MFS MRI is constantly being spread due to used equipment in medical facilities. Quality control of low MFS MRI can be important because less than 1 T MRI received significantly lower scores in both phantom and brain clinical image tests.

MeSH Terms

Accreditation
Brain
Korea
Magnetic Fields
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Magnetics
Magnets
Quality Control

Reference

1. Korea Institute Accreditation of Medical Image. Annual Report 2011. 2011. Seoul: KIAMI.

2. Ministry of Health and Welfare. Act on registration and operation of special medical instruments. 2003. Seoul: Ministry of Health and Welfare.

3. Lee JW, Ahn KJ, Lee SK, Na DG, Oh CH, Chang YM, et al. Usefulness of ACR MRI phantom for quality assurance of MRI instruments. J Korean Radiol Soc. 2006. 54:47–55.

4. Chung TS. Development of criteria for MRI quality assessment. 2002. Seoul: Korea Food and Drug Administration.

5. American College of Radiology. MRI quality control manual. 2004. Reston: American College of Radiology.

6. American College of Radiology. Phantom test guidance for the ACR MRI accreditation program. 2000. Reston: American College of Radiology.

7. Choi JI, Na DG, Kim HH, Shin YM, Ahn KJ, Lee JY. Quality control of medical imaging. J Korean Radiol Soc. 2004. 50:317–331.