Study shows significantly improved MR
image quality:
A comparison of traditional positioning
aids vs. Pearltec Multipad on
uncooperative patients and patientswith involuntary motion
Dr. Melanie Fukui et al., Neuroradiology, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, December, 2013

Background

Objective

Repetitions of MR examinations due to motion artifacts costtime and money. A study based on 192 exams conductedby Andre et al. [1] found that 59% of the measured
sequences had visible motion artifacts causing sequence
repetitions on almost every fifth MRI patient examination.
Andre et al. conclude, “greater attention and resources
should be directed toward providing practical solutions
to this dilemma”. Therefore, an optimized positioning
system for the patients is crucial. In this study conducted
at Allegheny General Hospital the application of Pearltec’s
Multipad was compared with traditional positioning aids inbrain MR examinations.

To assess the impact of Pearltec’s Multipad in comparison
to traditional positioning aids with regard to image quality
when performing MRI examinations on uncooperative
patients and patients with involuntary motion.

MRFig. 1: Pearltec’s Multipad used in the study.

Material and Methods
To analyze the potential elimination of motion artifacts, auser study was carried out at Allegheny General Hospital,Pittsburgh where brain MR exams were performed on
uncooperative patients and patients with involuntary
motion (n=22 subjects). First, exams were performed using
traditional positioning aids. Next, exams were repeatedusing Pearltec’s Multipad (Figure 1)
Exams were performed on either a Siemens Avanto or aSymphony MR system. Finally, Dr. Melanie Fukui, a specialistin neuroradiology and diagnostic radiology, rated theexams using a 5-tier scale designed to incorporate theimpact of motion artifacts on diagnostic image quality.
Ghosting artifacts, artifacts other than ghosting artifacts,
sharpness of brain edge and image noise as well as theoverall image quality were assessed.

Results
The study was conducted on 22 patients. Exams
using traditional positioning aids resulted in images
with moderate to severe artifacts where every fourth
measurement was deemed non-diagnostic. On theother hand, exams using Pearltec’s Multipad generated
diagnosticquality images. Overall image quality increased
from an average of 1.0 (moderate to severe artifacts) toan average of 3.0 (minimal image artifact). In 8 out of 22
patients, one of whom was an 83-year-old male patient,images obtained were deemed to be free of artifacts(Figure 2).
Overall, ghosting artifacts decreased in severity from 1.0 to
2.9. Artifacts other than ghosting artifacts decreased from
1.15 to 3.0; the sharpness of brain edge decreased from1.05 to 3.2, and image noise was diminished from 1.0 to 3.1,
where 0 corresponds to severe image artifacts and 4 toConclusion
Motion artifacts are the most common cause of MR image
degradation, particularly in the case of uncooperative
patients and patients with involuntary motion. Exams using
traditional positioning aids yielded images containing
severe motion artifacts, which were deemed nondiagnostic. On the other hand, exams conducted using
Pearltec’s Multipad generated diagnostic- quality images,
which were almost artifact-free. Pearltec’s Multipad
provides an opportunity to overcome motion artifacts,
improve image quality and achieve a new standard ofFig. 2: Image quality comparison on a brain scan of an 83-year-old malepatient. First exam used conventional foam (left side), second examused Pearltec’s Multipad (right side).

acquisition: conventional foamacquisition: Pearltec Multipad
artifact
freemoderate
artifacts

nondiagnostic

ghosting
artifacts

otherartifacts

sharpness image noise

Fig. 3: Results showing near artifact-free images using Pearltec’sMultipads.

1) Towards Quantifying the Prevalence, Severity, and Cost Associated With Patient Motion During Clinical MR Examinations. Andre, Jalal B. et al. Journal of the American College of Radiology,
Volume 12, Issue 7, 689 – 695

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