Analysis of TE Variations on SNR and CNR Values in Lumbar MRI T2WI Sequences at Bali Mandara Regional General Hospital

Aim: This study aims to evaluate the effect of echo time (TE) variation on MRI image quality, which is measured using Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and Contrast to Noise Ratio (CNR). The focus of the study was on lumbar MRI examinations at RSUD Bali Mandara using a Philips 1.5 Tesla MRI machine.

Study Design: This research used an experimental design with a quantitative approach. The study was conducted in the MRI unit at RSUD Bali Mandara from January to October 2024.

Methodology: The study involved 30 patients who underwent lumbar MRI examinations. Four TE variations (80 ms, 90 ms, 100 ms, and 110 ms) were applied to analyze SNR and CNR in corpus, discus, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tissues using the ROI (Region of Interest) method. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS statistical software to evaluate the effect of TE variations on image quality. The MRI machine used was the Philips Achieva 1.5 Tesla with standard lumbar imaging protocol parameters.

Results: Increasing the TE value significantly decreased SNR and CNR values. A TE of 80 ms provided the highest SNR and CNR values compared to other TE variations. This indicates that shorter TE produces better image quality.

Conclusion: Good MRI image quality is determined by high SNR and CNR values. This study recommends using an 80 ms TE in lumbar MRI imaging protocols to improve the accuracy of clinical interpretations.