The Physics of Clinical MR Taught Through Images

doi:10.3174/ajnr.A0627

American Journal of Neuroradiology

V.M. Runge, W.R. Nitz, S. Schmeets, W.H. Faulkner, N.K. Desai, eds. New York: Thieme; 2005, 240 pages, 385 illustrations, $49.95.

There are a large number of books and journal articles that allow one to gain an appreciation and an understanding of the basics of MR physics. Drs Runge, Nitz, Schmeets, Faulkner, and Desai have added one more to the list, and to this reviewer's eye, The Physics of Clinical MR Taught through Images is certainly one of the quickest and least painful ways of achieving that goal.

In this readily portable, 240-page soft-cover publication, 103 separate topics dealing with the implementation of MR are summarized and accompanied by a few appropriate images for each topic (2 pages per topic). There are many advantages to this approach; one simply has to realize that this is not an in-depth treatise, nor are there references listed. Further reading would be necessary for those desiring more than a basic working understanding of MR physics in their daily work. For most clinical radiologists, however, the information contained in this book would be either adequate or would be a good initial publication from which to build one's knowledge of MR physics.

There is, as one would expect, more than neuro-MR contained in this publication, but neuroradiology images do predominate the pages. Although the sequencing of chapters seem a bit arbitrary (eg, chapters on section thickness or number of averages appear midway through the book, whereas more advanced topics, such as diffusion tensor imaging or blood oxygen level-dependent imaging, precede those more fundamental chapters), one can easily find the item of concern by consulting the table of contents or the index. This book covers hardware (magnets, gradients, and coils), safety (very limited material), newer coil technology, imaging considerations, basic pulse sequences (∼25 chapters), considerations in MR angiography (MRA), contrast material, MR spectroscopy, diffusion-weighted MR imaging, perfusion imaging, motion and motion correction, fat suppression, blood oxygen level-dependent imaging, parallel imaging, cardiac imaging, MR mammography, and topics in abdominal imaging and artifacts. When deemed necessary by the authors, pulse diagrams for various sequences are included and adequate examples of each are shown. One can, therefore, quickly and conveniently look up items that are easily forgettable (or never known), such as driven-equilibrium Fourier transformation; half-Fourier acquired single-shot turbo spin-echo; spoiled, balanced, or refocused gradient echo; free induction with steady-state precession/reversed free induction with steady-state precession; constructive interference in steady state, and other word salads. The 7 chapters (13 pages) on MRA, 3D, 2D, phase contrast, and carotid/abdominal/peripheral imaging are particularly well written and properly illustrated. Of course in this primer one should not expect to read of all the advantages/disadvantages of certain MR protocols or see many disease states, because that was not the aim of the book. Surprisingly absent from the book are a couple of items that the authors might wish to include in future editions, such as susceptibility-weighted imaging or, even more importantly, material on high-field MR systems (3T and stronger). There are practical considerations in dealing with 3T system, which would make such additional chapters on this subject appealing to readers wanting a firmer understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of such systems.

In summary, this book fulfills its aim in giving our specialty an easily digestible and basic discussion of the physics of MR.