Detection and Evaluation of SNR and Uniformity of 5.0 T Ultra-High-Field MRI Equipment

Objective To evaluate the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and image uniformity of 5.0 T MRI using a standardized water phantom, and to enhance the reproducibility of quality control procedures.

Methods Existing methodologies for SNR and uniformity assessment were systematically reviewed, and a standardized testing protocol based on the SMR 170 phantom was developed. Under identical pulse sequence conditions, various image reconstruction parameters were compared and analyzed to determine optimal settings for image quality control in 5.0 T MRI.

Results The SNR and image uniformity of the 5.0 T MRI system at our institution were evaluated. The results demonstrated that different reconstruction parameters significantly influenced the quantitative outcomes of image quality metrics.

Conclusion This study establishes a standardized approach for SNR and uniformity evaluation, along with optimized reconstruction parameters, thereby supporting consistent, reliable, and scientifically sound quality control of 5.0 T MRI equipment.