Table 3 Factors affecting protocol delivery at each site
Site | Protocol | Hardware limitation | Software limitation | Local preference (protocol changes from Table 2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | A | Ok | Ok | – |
2 | A | Ok | Ok | DWI: fewer averages (2,2,4) to reduce scan time; larger FOV (450Â mm) to better cover the arms |
3 | B | Ok | No station composing | – |
4 | A | Ok | No station composing | – |
5 | C | Ok | Ok | – |
6 | D | Ok | No station composing (DWI only) | – |
7 | A | Ok | Ok | – |
8 | C | Ok | Ok | – |
9 | A | Low gradients (33 mT/m at 125 T/m/s vs. 45 mT/m at 200 T/m/s) | Ok | DWI: number of averages for b = 900 mm2/s was increased to 7 (from 6) to compensate for lower SNR (longer TE; 81 ms) due to lower gradient strength |
10 | C | Ok | Ok | – |
11 | A | Ok | Ok | DWI: fewer averages (2,2,4) to reduce scan time; larger FOV (455Â mm) to better cover the arms |
12 | A | Ok | Ok | DWI: only 2 b-values (50, 900; omit b = 600 mm2/s) and fewer averages (2,5) to reduce scan time |