Practical Small Animal MRI

Practical Small Animal MRI is the seminal reference for clinicians using Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the diagnosis and treatment of veterinary patients. Although MRI is used most frequently in the diagnosis of neurologic disorders, it also has significant application to other body systems. This book covers normal anatomy and specific clinical conditions of the nervous system, musculoskeletal system, abdomen, thorax, and head and neck. It also contains several chapters on disease of the brain and spine, including inflammatory, infectious, neoplastic, and vascular diseases, alongside congenital and degenerative disorders.

The two authors, a radiologist and a neurologist, supported by two other contributors, each have over 20 years’ experience in MRI, and this is borne out by the huge amount of information and images presented.

A fascinating insight into the field; the text is well-written and extremely detailed…. invaluable as an introduction to principles of the physics of MRI and the challenges of producing diagnostic images without artifacts, and as a reference for use in clinical situations.

The extensive experience of the authors combined with a comprehensive review of the literature published on small animals MRI imaging make this the most comprehensive text on this subject…. the image quality is excellent.

I purchased the book for my boyfriend as a gift. He’s an MRI tech/Vet tech for a veterinary neurology practice. He really enjoys the book and says that it is exactly what he needed. He thinks the content is well written and has helped him with MRI scanning. His only complaint is that in three months the book is falling apart. This isn’t a book that gets throw around or misused. Half of the neurology chapter has fallen out of the book along with some other pages. Considering the cost of the book this is very surprising. At this rate this book may not last a year. Not sure if it’s just his copy or if others have had the same experience. Unfortunately, because of this experience I can not recommend getting the hardcover version of this book.

Small Animal MRI by Patrick R. Gavin

The book fell apart the first time I opened it. Every time I open or turn a page more pages just fall out. Treated very gingerly and opened on table lightly, but pages are just very lightly attached; horrible binding. The content may be good, but doesn't matter; it is not useful as a functional reference on a daily or weekly basis as the pages just keep falling out. Do not spend money on this unless/until the binding issue is resolved.

Practical Small Animals MRI is the seminal reference for clinicians using Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the diagnosis and treatment of veterinary patients. Although MRI is used most frequently in the diagnosis of neurologic disorders, it also has significant application to other body systems. This book covers normal anatomy and specific clinical conditions of the nervous system, musculoskeletal system, abdomen, thorax, and head and neck. It also contains several chapters on disease of the brain and spine, including inflammatory, infectious, neoplastic, and vascular diseases, alongside congenital and degenerative disorders.

“The two authors, a radiologist and a neurologist, supported by two other contributors, each have over 20 years’ experience in MRI contrast agent, and this is borne out by the huge amount of information and images presented.” (Veterinary Record, May 2010)

“A fascinating insight into the field; the text is well-written and extremely detailed…. invaluable as an introduction to principles of the physics of MRI and the challenges of producing diagnostic images without artifacts, and as a reference for use in clinical situations.” (Veterinary Practice, April 2010)

“The extensive experience of the authors combined with a comprehensive review of the literature published on small animal MRI imaging make this the most comprehensive text on this subject…. the image quality is excellent.” (VCOT, 2009)
Practical Small Animal MRI is the seminal reference for clinicians using Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the diagnosis and treatment of veterinary patients. Although MRI is used most frequently in the diagnosis of neurologic disorders, it also has significant application to other body systems. This book covers normal anatomy and specific clinical conditions of the nervous system, musculoskeletal system, abdomen, thorax, and head and neck.

Practical Small Animal MRI provides extensive coverage of the nervous system, with several chapters on diseases of the brain and spine, including inflammatory, infectious, neoplastic, and vascular diseases, alongside congenital and degenerative disorders. Specific chapters also cover orthopedic conditions and other diseases of the head and neck, including nasal cavity and optic region, as well as abdominal and thoracic examinations. Introductory chapters provide basic information on the physics of magnetic resonance imaging and equipment selection. With more than 1,000 images, Practical Small Animal MRI is a must-have resource for veterinary radiologists, neurologists, surgeons, oncologists, internists, and all veterinarians using MR imaging in small animals.

First specialist reference devoted solely to the practical use of MRI
Coverage of normal anatomy and specific clinical conditions of the nervous system, musculoskeletal system, abdomen, thorax, and head and neck
Introductory chapters provide basic information on the physics of magnetic resonance imaging and equipment selection
More than 1,000 images

I purchased the book for my boyfriend as a gift. He’s an MRI tech/Vet tech for a veterinary neurology practice. He really enjoys the book and says that it is exactly what he needed. He thinks the content is well written and has helped him with MRI scanning. His only complaint is that in three months the book is falling apart. This isn’t a book that gets throw around or misused. Half of the neurology chapter has fallen out of the book along with some other pages. Considering the cost of the book this is very surprising. At this rate this book may not last a year. Not sure if it’s just his copy or if others have had the same experience. Unfortunately, because of this experience I can not recommend getting the hardcover version of this book.

T1 Weighted Image By Dr Jeremy Jones

T1 weighted image (also referred to as T1WI or “spin-lattice” relaxation time) is one of the basic pulse sequences in MRI Contrast Agent and demonstrates differences in the T1 relaxation times of tissues.

A T1WI relies upon the longitudinal relaxation of a tissue’s net magnetisation vector (NMV). Basically, spins aligned in an external field (B0) are put into the transverse plane by an RF pulse. They then slide back toward the original equilibirum of B0. Not all tissues get back to equilibirum equally quickly, and a tissue’s T1 reflects the amount of time its protons’ spins realign with the main magnetic field (B0).

T1 weighting tends to have short TE and TR times.

Fat quickly realigns its longitudinal magnetization with B0, and it therefore appears bright on a T1 weighted image. Conversely, water has much slower longitudinal magnetization realignment after an RF pulse, and therefore has less transverse magnetization after a RF pulse. Thus, water has low signal and appears dark.

If T1WIs did not have short TRs, then all the protons would recover their alignment with the main magnetic field and the image would be uniformly intense. Selecting a TR shorter than the tissues’ recovery time allows one to differentiate them (i.e. tissue contrast).

T1-weighted sequences provide the best contrast for paramagnetic contrast agents (e.g. a gadolinium-containing compounds).

T1-weighted sequences include:

T1W spin echo (SE)
T1W gradient echo (GRE)
gadolinium postcontrast sequences (gradient echo sequences)
time of flight 2D or 3D MR angiography sequences
contrast-enhanced MR angiography
dual echo sequence (in-phase and out-of-phase)
Summary

TR: short
TE: short
fat: bright
fluid: dark

MRI basic Physics

Faulkner is easy to follow and understand. This book is just the right size to carry around with you to use as a reference,also.

This handy reference will give the practicing and training technologist a solid understanding of basic MRI contrast agent principles on which further learning can be built. Beginning with a hardware overview and moving through tissue characteristics, image quality and flow imaging, Rad Tech’s Guide to Small Animals MRI: Basic Physics, Instrumenation, and Qaulity Control should be used as both an introduction and an examination preparation tool.
Each book in the Rad Tech’s Guide Series covers the essential basics for those preparing for their certifying examinations and those already in practice.

This handy reference will give the practicing and training technologist a solid understanding of basic MRI principles on which further learning can be built. Beginning with a hardware overview and moving through tissue characteristics, image quality and flow imaging, Rad Tech’s Guide to MRI: Basic Physics, Instrumenation, and Qaulity Control should be used as both an introduction and an examination preparation tool.
Each book in the Rad Tech’s Guide Series covers the essential basics for those preparing for their certifying examinations and those already in practice.
Special Features include:

Materal based on the ARRT educational requirements
Quick-reference bullet format
Concise presentation

Of all the books and materials I’ve read on MRI, Mr. Faulkner’s small book is the best written on understanding the key components to MRI. It is invaluable to someone who desires to understand the basic physics and is the single best foundation for a technologist to build on. It also seemed to dovetail with ARRT’s perspective in my Board Exam. If a tech had only one book to reference as he/she trains clinically, this would be it, in my opinion. I also attended Mr. Faulkner’s MRI class in Chattanooga, TN where he gives monthly seminar and a week’s review and it is the best 5 day seminar on MRI possible. If you read this book first and prepare questions for the seminar, you are 99% likely to come away with a highly expert understanding. If you have been out of MRI for a long time and need to review to get back up to speed, this book is the answer to that need. He wrote it for the ages. The basic physics will always apply as the technology advances. It is a tribute to love and understanding of MRI. Absolute Kudos.

Beleive me this is THE best little MRI review book I have ever seen so far. It is very easy to undersand and very concise. IT covers everything in an easy to understand way. I really helped me.

Planning and Positioning in MRI

This is a gem of a book that I refer to often for positioning of those rarely done or difficult to position exams. This book is nearly complete from head to toe in MRI positioning and is easy to read with great photos showing slice selections. It includes pituitary, orbits, cranial nerves, TMJ's, brachial plexus, elbow/FABS view, pancreas, fetal, pelvic arteries, femur/quads/hamstring, foot and other more and less common exams. Each chapter begins with an anatomy drawing with labels to the important/obscure parts. 

Positioning in MRI is a clinical manual about the creation of magnetic resonance images. This manual focuses upon patient positioning and image planning.

The manual is organised by body region and provides valuable insight into -

Patient pathology on MRI contrast agent.
Considerations when positioning both the patient and coil.
Imaging planes.
Anatomical image alignment.
This manual is a comprehensive highly visual reference to the planning and positioning of patients and coils in MR imaging. High quality imaging specific to patient pathology is encouraged through the focus on ‘considerations’ specific to coil and patient placement and imaging plane selection.

Over 200 small animals MRI images
Formulaic internal design assist use as clinical manual to MRI planning
Evidence base provided where appropriate (cranial neurology)
Image selection – assist learning principles that underpin good positioning and anatomical coverage
Explores positioning of patient and coils specific to individual treatment requirements
Evolve website – image collection (over 200 MR images) and additional case studies

Every section in the chapter clearly states what the different series demonstrate in the anatomy which I find very helpful when a patients diagnosis is already known and certain sequences can provide greater detail for the radiologist. Using this reference has helped build my confidence and made me look really smart to my peers too. 

Editor needs to be more careful

I purchased this to help study for the registry. Unfortunately some of the question/answers are out of order. And some of the answers just plain wrong! For instance, SAR, on question 169, is specific absorbtion rate, NOT, susceptibility attack region as the answer states. If this was the only study guide I was using, that type of miss matches would really screw me up. I know that this guide is coming out in print in June 2013, hopefully this will have been caught. If not, buyer beware. Luckily I have been through an MRI contrast agent course and am not just using this review. If you haven’t, please invest in more study materials than just this guide. All in all,this could be much better, however I think it is the editing and not Ms Roth that is at fault. The information is present, it just seems to have gotten a bit jumbled.

Definitely one of the reasons I passed the registry test 1st time up. A simple book of questions with multiple choice answers. If you don’t understand why the answer is that particular answer you should cross reference with Small Animals MRI in Practice, MIC Crosstrainer or IACI Online to fully understand as these are NOT the exact registry questions, but gives you a good idea of what to expect and what to study. Definitely don’t make this your only study resource though as there’s a ton of theory and physics on the test that you need to understand not just regurgitate multiple choice answers.

I was rattled by the numerous errors contained in the first version. While this version has supposedly been corrected, novices like me would do well to proceed cautiously. I suppose there is some value in looking up the answers from an independent and more reliable source but I doubt most people buying a review book would want to do so

That being said, the book is comprehensive. Divided into four parts covering Patient Care, Imaging Procedures, Data Acquisition and Processing and Physical Principles of Image formation it also includes a glossary and a single MRI Calculations page. The bulk of the book contains questions including some with adequate if not exceptionally clear photographic images.

On its face, this book appears to be helpful. but neophytes might not recognize the errors so I would use care before relying on this source alone.

I have now purchased the ad version and the book itself but they both contain the same mistakes. I don’t think that anyone proof read the book before it was published. Answers are misnumbered and just plain wrong answers are given. It’s not very helpful when you are trying to study for the MRI boards. I have now spent $100 for both and still are looking up the correct answers. Not a review book from these two authors I expected to get.

Book is great - Kindle reader version is a hassle to read equations

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is currently doing breast MRI contrast agent or interesting in starting. The first several chapters are directed toward understanding the physics behind breast MR and are easy to understand even by a non-physicist. The second half of the book turns toward protocols, safety and optimizing breast MRI techniques. The book is clearly written and has changed my clinical practice. I am now performing studies that use magnet time more efficiently and with improved image quality. This book is valuable to both the beginner and the experienced breast imager. It is particularly helpful to radiologists who want to improve their breast MRI protocols. I also recommend this book to any technologist who wants to know more about breast MRI.


Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an integral component of medical imaging. Whilst new measurement techniques and applications continue to be developed nearly thirty years after the initial clinical scanners were installed the basic principles behind the measurement techniques remain as true today as then. This fifth edition of MRI Basic Principles and Applications presents the fundamental concepts of MRI in a clear and concise manner, minimizing the mathematical formalism yet providing a foundation to understand the results that are obtained with today’s clinical scanners. This book:


Accessible introductory guide from renowned teachers in the benchtop nmr field
Provides a concise yet thorough introduction for MRI focusing on fundamental physics, pulse sequences, and clinical applications without presenting advanced math
Takes a practical approach, including up-to-date protocols, and supports technical concepts with thorough explanations and illustrations
Highlights sections that are directly relevant to radiology board exams
Presents new information on the latest scan techniques and applications including 3 Tesla whole body scanners, safety issues, and the nephrotoxic effects of gadolinium-based contrast media
This is an ideal resource to help radiologists prepare for their exams and understand the underlying MR physics principles as efficiently as possible.

Review Questions for MRI

I was rattled by the numerous errors contained in the first version. While this version has supposedly been corrected, novices like me would do well to proceed cautiously. I suppose there is some value in looking up the answers from an independent and more reliable source but I doubt most people buying a review book would want to do so

That being said, the book is comprehensive. Divided into four parts covering Patient Care, Imaging Procedures, Data Acquisition and Processing and Physical Principles of Image formation it also includes a glossary and a single MRI Calculations page. The bulk of the book contains questions including some with adequate if not exceptionally clear photographic images.

On its face, this book appears to be helpful. but neophytes might not recognize the errors so I would use care before relying on this source alone.

Definitely one of the reasons I passed the registry test 1st time up. A simple book of questions with multiple choice answers. If you don't understand why the answer is that particular answer you should cross reference with MRI contrast agent in Practice, MIC Crosstrainer or IACI Online to fully understand as these are NOT the exact registry questions, but gives you a good idea of what to expect and what to study. Definitely don't make this your only study resource though as there's a ton of theory and physics on the test that you need to understand not just regurgitate multiple choice answers.

I have now purchased the ad version and the book itself but they both contain the same mistakes. I don't think that anyone proof read the book before it was published. Answers are misnumbered and just plain wrong answers are given. It's not very helpful when you are trying to study for the Small Animals MRI boards. I have now spent $100 for both and still are looking up the correct answers. Not a review book from these two authors I expected to get.

Book of NMR CASE STUDIES

NMR Case Studies: Data Analysis of Complicated Molecules provides a detailed discussion of the full logical flow associated with assigning the NMR spectra of complex molecules while helping readers further develop their NMR spectral assignment skills.

The robust case studies present the logic of each assignment from beginning to end, and fully explore the available range of potential solutions. Readers will gain a better appreciation of various approaches and will develop an intuitive sense for when this particular concept should be implemented. This enhances the skill sets of readers by providing a host of methodologies potentially amenable to yielding correct assignments.

Readers will gain a better appreciation of various approaches and will develop an intuitive sense for when this particular concept should be implemented. This enhances the skill sets of readers by providing a host of methodologies potentially amenable to yielding correct assignments. Authored by a scientist with more than 20 years of experience in research and instruction, this book is the ideal reference for anyone in search of application-based content that addresses complicated molecules including corticosteroids, biomolecules, polypeptides, and secondary metabolites.

Features the nuclear magnetic resonance NMR system for EDU spectra of a number of large and interesting molecules, ranging from corticosteroids to secondary metabolites to large synthetically prepared molecules
Uses case studies to pair the spectral signals from the various sites of each molecule to their molecular counterparts in a process called assignment
Includes complex NMR system for research problems, aiding readers in the development of NMR spectral assignment skills
Features input from a leading scientist with over 20 years of research and instruction experience in the field

Authored by a scientist with more than 20 years of experience in research and instruction, this book is the ideal reference for anyone in search of application-based content that addresses complicated molecules including corticosteroids, biomolecules, polypeptides, and secondary metabolites.

How do Understand MRI Pulse Sequences

I believe it will become the 'gold standard' text for people involved in MR research or applications because of its clear and concise descriptions of most aspects of MRI.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is among the most important medical imaging techniques available today. There is an installed base of approximately 15,000 MRI scanners worldwide. Each of these scanners is capable of running many different "pulse sequences", which are governed by physics and engineering principles, and implemented by software programs that control the MRI hardware. To utilize an MRI scanner to the fullest extent, a conceptual understanding of its pulse sequences is crucial. This book offers a complete guide that can help the scientists, engineers, clinicians, and technologists in the field of MRI understand and better employ their scanner.

This book is an excellent overview and reference for MRI pulse sequences. It has been recommended to me as a reference by several scientists, and anyone who works in the MRI contrast agent field should consider buying this book -- even if you are not a pulse programmer, this book will give you a much better understanding of different sequences and which one may be most appropriate for your research application. It does a good job of describing sequences in a qualitative as well as mathematical manner.

One slight problem with the book is that it is oriented towards just MRI physics, and thus if one wants to sit down at an actual scanner and try to program or implement the sequence, one might not have enough specific details about hardware-related issues (such as gradient duty cycles, RF power calibration, SAR, memory allocation, etc) to actually implement a sequence. Thus, the book is best supplemented with a review of current literature, as well as manufacturer documentation or examples of previously written pulse sequences.

I got to know this good handbook from an international conference. It was sold out in few days during the exhibition period. I strongly recommend every Bench-top NMR guy own at least one copy of it. ^__^