What change will most likely increase the chances of peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) in a patient?

Lowering the echo time (TE) is likely to increase the chances of peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) in a patient during an MRI scan. PNS can occur due to rapidly changing magnetic fields or gradients, which are influenced by the timing and duration of the pulse sequences used in MRI.

When TE is decreased, the time between the excitation pulse and the signal acquisition is shorter, which can lead to more rapid changes in the magnetic fields and gradient applications. This rapid change increases the likelihood of inducing electrical currents in the patient's nerves, potentially resulting in PNS.

Increasing the field of view (FOV) or decreasing the image matrix could modify the spatial resolution or overall scan duration but do not directly influence the risk of PNS as significantly as lowering TE does. Therefore, adjusting these parameters does not have the same pronounced impact on the potential for peripheral nerve stimulation compared to changes in echo time.