In reducing patient heating, which option is effective?

Reducing the number of slices during an MRI can effectively decrease patient heating. In MRI, radiofrequency (RF) pulses are used to excite protons in the body, generating heat as a byproduct of the excitation process. Each additional slice introduces more RF energy exposure to the patient, leading to increased heating.

When the number of slices is reduced, the overall RF energy delivered during the scan is minimized. This decrease in energy contributes to lower thermal load on the patient, which is essential for maintaining safety during imaging. By limiting the amount of time protons are being excited and the total energy input, the risk of exceeding safe temperature levels in the patient's tissues is lowered.

In contrast, increasing slice thickness, increasing pulse duration, or using a smaller field of view (FOV) can lead to greater energy deposition and increased heating. For instance, thicker slices may require more RF energy to excite a larger volume of tissue, while longer pulse durations inherently deliver more energy over time. A smaller FOV might concentrate the RF energy on a smaller area, but it can similarly lead to increased heating in that specific region. Therefore, reducing the number of slices is the most effective way to mitigate patient heating during MRI procedures.