Optimized 14+1 Receive Coil Array and Position System for 3D High Resolution MRI of Dental and Maxillo-Mandibular Structures

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to design, built and test a multi element receive coil array and position system, which is optimized for 3D high resolution dental and maxillo-mandibular MRI with high patient comfort.

METHODS: A 14+1 coil array and positioning system, allowing easy handling by the technologists, reproducible positioning of the patients and high patient comfort, was tested with 3 healthy volunteers at an 3 Tesla MRI machine. High-resolution 3D T1-weighted, water excitation T1-weighted and fat saturated T2-weighted imaging sequences were scanned and 3D image data was reformatted in different orientations and curvatures to aid diagnosis.

RESULTS: The high number of receiving coils and the comfortable positioning of the coil array close to the patient's face provided a high signal to noise ratio and allowed to acquire high quality, high resolution, 3D image data within reasonable scan times due to the possibility of parallel image acquisition acceleration. Reformatting the isotropic 3D image data in different views is helpful for diagnosis, e.g. panoramic reconstruction. The visibility of soft tissues like the mandibular canal, nutritive canals and periodontal ligaments was exquisite.

CONCLUSION: The optimized MRT receive coil array and positioning system for dental and oral-maxillofacial imaging provides a valuable tool for detecting and diagnosing pathologies in dental and oral-maxillofacial structures while avoiding radiation dose. The high patient comfort, as achieved by our design, is very crucial, since image artifacts due to movement or failing to complete the exam jeopardize the diagnostic value of MRI exams.