MSc Medical Imaging Science / Course details

This course-unit leads on from the non-radioisotope imaging course unit.  It addresses specific issues and advanced techniques and applications of MR imaging, including image artefacts, imaging using hyperpolarised gasses, perfusion and diffusion imaging.

The unit will review the physics of MR image formation and will go on to discuss a range of advanced and cutting edge quantitative MR imaging methods and clinical applications.

The topics covered will include:
 

• Recap of MR image formation - basic physics, relaxation processes, contrast mechanisms, MR image pulse sequences and k-space, fast imaging sequences
• Artefacts in MR images
• Quantitative relaxation time imaging
• Non-contrast methods to imaging blood flow and perfusion – angiography, phase-contrast flow, arterial spin labelling
• Diffusion-weighted MR imaging and tractography
• Functional MR imaging using BOLD contrast
• Other endogenous contrast mechanisms e.g T1rho, magnetisation transfer, CEST
• Use of MR contrast agents, qualitative perfusion-weighted methods and quantitative modelling of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI
• Spectroscopy, non-proton imaging methods
• MR imaging hardware

Selected clinical applications will include:
 

• Neuroscience
• Cardiovascular sciences
• Musculoskeletal

The unit will consist of a combination of lectures, practical experimental work, literature search and critical review. The practical session will involve the collection of clinical MRI data using a 3T clinical MRI scanner. Students will work in small groups to optimise a scan protocol for quantitative imaging and will obtain data from a healthy volunteer. Students will analyse the data to produce quantitative parametric maps and will present the results within a written lab report.

Students are required to have attended Mathematical Foundations of Imaging and Non-Radioisotope Imaging in order to study this unit.

• To equip students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles of magnetic resonance image formation in terms of the underlying physics
• To develop an awareness of the range of MR techniques for quantitative imaging and selected clinical and research applications
• To enhance students abilities in experimental research methods including critical appraisal of scientific literature and data acquisition, analysis and reporting, providing a foundation for further research and employment in academic or industrial settings

Learning and teaching will take the form of traditional lectures, group discussion, practical experimental work (individually and in small groups), independent research and study, online quizzes and simulations, literature searching, problem solving and report writing.

Written/online examples will be available after each lecture and feedback will be provided during group discussions in the following sessions.

Blackboard will be used for course materials including lecture slides and additional reading, written example sheets and for online formative assessments. 

• Formal summative assessments 
• Real time educative formative assessments during practical classes