Lesson 1Use of gadolinium-based contrast agents: indications, contraindications, and NSF risk mitigationReviews gadolinium contrast pharmacology, indications, dosing, contraindications, NSF risks, screening, and ways to cut risks while keeping diagnostic quality and clinical benefits.
Gadolinium chelate types and stability classesClinical indications in neuro and MSK MRIRenal function assessment and eGFR thresholdsContraindications and high-risk patient groupsNSF pathophysiology and risk reduction stepsInformed consent and documentation practicesLesson 2Sequence selection and parameter adjustments to trade image contrast, spatial resolution, and scan timeCovers how sequence choices and parameters affect contrast, resolution, and scan time, with practical trade-offs using TR, TE, flip angle, FOV, matrix, and parallel imaging in standard protocols.
TR, TE, and flip angle fundamentalsAdjusting contrast with sequence familiesBalancing spatial resolution and SNRScan time, averages, and parallel imagingFOV, matrix, and slice thickness choicesProtocol optimisation for clinical questionsLesson 3Safety zones, zone access control, and patient monitoring inside MRI (hearing protection, emergency response)Defines MRI safety zones, access policies, staff roles, patient monitoring, hearing protection, emergency procedures, and handling code events or quench in the MRI area.
ACR MRI safety zones I–IV layoutControlled access and staff responsibilitiesScreening before zone III and IV entryHearing protection selection and fittingPhysiologic monitoring and alarms in MRIEmergency response, code and quench plansLesson 4Artifacts in MRI and how they affect interpretation: motion, susceptibility, chemical shift, and their mitigationExplains common MRI artifacts, causes, appearances like motion, susceptibility, chemical shift, and strategies to spot, reduce, or use them for better image interpretation.
Patient motion and ghosting artifactsFlow and pulsation artifacts in neuro MRIMagnetic susceptibility and metal artifactsChemical shift and India ink artifactsAliasing, wraparound, and truncationSequence and parameter tweaks to reduce artifactsLesson 5Basic MRI signal formation: hydrogen nuclei, T1 and T2 relaxation, proton density, and image contrast mechanismsIntroduces MRI signal from hydrogen nuclei, Larmor precession, resonance, T1/T2 relaxation, proton density, and how they create contrast in clinical MRI.
Hydrogen nuclei, spin, and Larmor frequencyRF excitation, resonance, and signal inductionT1 relaxation and longitudinal recoveryT2 relaxation and transverse decayProton density and its role in contrastFactors influencing overall image contrastLesson 6Patient preparation for MRI musculoskeletal and neuro exams (positioning, coils, immobilisation, and comfort measures)Details prep for musculoskeletal and neuro MRI, including screening, positioning, coil selection, immobilisation, and comfort to boost image quality, cut motion, anxiety, and repeats.
Pre-exam screening and patient educationPositioning for spine and brain MRIPositioning for joints and extremity MRICoil selection and placement optimisationImmobilisation devices and motion controlComfort, anxiety reduction, and sedationLesson 7MRI safety screening: ferromagnetic hazards, implants, pacemakers, and the safety questionnaire workflowOutlines MRI safety screening, focusing on ferromagnetic risks, implants, cardiac devices, interpreting labels, managing conditional implants, and documenting clearance.
Ferromagnetic object and projectile risksStandard MRI safety questionnaire itemsPacemakers and cardiac device categoriesMR Safe, MR Conditional, MR Unsafe labelsHandling aneurysm clips and neurostimulatorsDocumentation and communication of clearanceLesson 8Common MRI sequences relevant to musculoskeletal and neuro imaging: T1-weighted, T2-weighted, FLAIR, DWI, GRE/SWI, proton density, and STIRReviews key MRI sequences for musculoskeletal and neuro imaging, their contrast, uses, and limits for T1, T2, FLAIR, DWI, GRE/SWI, proton density, and STIR.
T1-weighted sequences and main indicationsT2-weighted and fluid-sensitive imagingFLAIR for parenchymal and CSF pathologyDWI and ADC for acute ischaemia and tumoursGRE and SWI for blood and calcificationPD and STIR in joint and marrow evaluation
