prescribed to extend from well below, to well above lesions seen on coronal or sagittal images
entire thigh to skin surfaces
Knee
Coronal
parallel to posterior surfaces of femoral condyles
femoral condyles to anterior margin of patella
superior edge of patella to inferior edge of tibial tuberosity
Sagittal
parallel with ACL
lateral to medial collateral ligaments
superior edge of patella to below tibial tuberosity
Axial
perpendicular to posterior surfaces of femoral condyles
superior surface of patella to tibial tuberosity
entire knee to skin surfaces
Tibia and fibula
Coronal
parallel to interosseous ligament
posterior to anterior skin surfaces of calf
whole of tibia and fibula to skin surfaces
Sagittal
perpendicular to the interosseous ligament
left to right skin margins of calf
whole of tibia and fibula to skin surfaces
Axial
perpendicular to long axis of the tibia
well above and below lesions seen in sagittal and coronal planes
whole calf to skin surfaces
Ankle
Coronal
parallel to transmalleolar line
Achilles tendon to base of proximal metatarsals
inferior border of calcaneum to distal portion of tibia
Sagittal
parallel to mortise axially, to distal tibia coronally
from the lateral to medial aspects of the ankle
distal tibia to the sole of the foot and the tarsometatarsal joints
Axial
perpendicular to long axis of distal tibia
superior margin of tibiofibular margin to bottom of calcaneum and base of fifth metatarsal
entire ankle joint to skin surfaces
Foot
Coronal
proximally parallel to bases of the first to fourth metatarsals
metatarsophalangeal joints to tarsometatarsal joints
whole foot to skin surfaces
Sagittal
perpendicular to plane joining base of first to fourth metatarsals
lateral to medial aspects of foot
sole of foot to distal tibia
Axial
perpendicular to metatarsals
metatarophalangeal joints to tarsometatarsal joints
whole foot to skin surfaces
CONCLUSION
To use this book:
Find the required anatomical region and then locate the specific examination.
Study the categories under each section. It is possible that all the categories are relevant if the examination is being performed for the first time. However, there may be occasions when only one item is appropriate. For example, there could be a specific artefact that is regularly observed in chest examinations, or image quality is not up to standard in lumbar spine protocols. Under these circumstances, read the subsection entitled Protocol optimization.
If the terms used, or concepts discussed in Part 2 are unfamiliar, then turn to Part 1 and read the summaries described there.
This section refers mainly to the Technical issues subheading discussed under the Protocol optimization heading considered for each examination in Part 2. Only a brief overview is provided here. For a more detailed explanation, please refer to Chapter 7 of the fifth edition of MRI in Practice or an equivalent text.
The main considerations of protocol optimization are:
signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR)
contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR)
spatial resolution
scan time.
Each factor is controlled by certain protocol parameters, and each ‘trades off’ against the other. This section summarizes these parameters and their trade‐offs. Suggested protocol parameters are outlined in Table 2.1 and should be universally acceptable on most systems. However, weighting parameters are field strength dependent, and therefore some modification may be required for extremely low‐ or high‐field systems.
