Experience with use of multi-phase transmission in 3-tesla magnetic resonance imaging of the upper abdomen

HIGH-RESOLUTION CHARACTERISTICS OF 3T-MRI At 3 T, with a voxel size of 0.6 × 0.6 × 2.0 mm, extremely high-resolution images can be achieved (Fig. 10), and high precision and detail can be achieved with contrastenhanced imaging, even with magneticresonance cholangiopancreatography. On the other hand, due to the great increase in the number of images made, when these techniques are used on a routine basis, there are problems with respect to the requirements for image interpretation time, and the capacity of the picture archiving and communication system (PACS). The approaches to overcoming these difficulties and applying the techniques to clinical use are issues to be evaluated in the future. If, due to the high signal-to-noise ratio, resolution equal to computed tomography is achieved, it is expected that this technique will be applied to the diagnosis, staging assessment, etc., of pancreatic cancer, which requires accurate anatomic information. However, this remains to be verified.