Increased interest of clinicians for using 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as
imaging modality of choice for their patients, has been evident in the past few years.
The aim of this study was to compare the technical quality of the obtained tomography
using 3.0 T and 1.5 T MRI, and to compare the subjective feeling of discomfort
of patients and subjective acoustic noise experience during imaging using MRI at 3.0
T and 1.5 T. Brain MRI (1.5 and 3.0 T) was performed in 58 patients, according to a
standardized protocol. All studies have been randomly described by independent two
radiologists. The reference standard for the existence of technical artifact is established
on the basis of both radiologists’ consensus. We also compared the subjective
feelings of the discomfort and acoustic noise during the both MRI (1.5 T and 3.0 T)
exams. Artifacts were significantly more common during 3.0 T MRI in comparison
with the 1.5 T MRI (χ 2 = 5.286, P < 0.05), as well as in male patients (χ 2 = 8.841, P <
0.05), and subjective assessments of discomfort and acoustic noise were higher in patients
who underwent imaging using 3.0 T MRI, (χ 2 = 125.959, df = 1, P < 0.001) and
in females (χ 2 = 195.449, df = 1, P < 0.001). Additional research is needed to prove
that appropriate information for patients about the discomfort during 3.0 T MRI and
their psychological preparation is very important element for optimal use of 3.0 T
MRI in daily clinical practice.
