STATEMENT Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting- a promising new approach

Abstract Current routine MRI examinations rely on the acqui-sition of qualitative images that have a contrast “weighted ” for a mixture of (magnetic) tissue properties. Recently, a novel ap-proach was introduced, namely MR Fingerprinting (MRF) with a completely different approach to data acquisition, post-processing and visualization. Instead of using a repeated, serial acquisition of data for the characterization of individual param-eters of interest, MRF uses a pseudo randomized acquisition that causes the signals from different tissues to have a unique signal evolution or ‘fingerprint ’ that is simultaneously a function of the multiple material properties under investigation. The processing after acquisition involves a pattern recognition algorithm to match the fingerprints to a predefined dictionary of predicted signal evolutions. These can then be translated into quantitative maps of the magnetic parameters of interest. MR Fingerprinting (MRF) is a technique that could theoretically be applied to most traditional qualitative MRI methods and replaces them with ac-quisition of truly quantitative tissue measures. MRF is, thereby, expected to be much more accurate and reproducible than tradi-tional MRI and should improve multi-center studies and signif-icantly reduce reader bias when diagnostic imaging is per-formed. Key Points • MR fingerprinting (MRF) is a new approach to data acquisition, post-processing and visualization. • MRF provides highly accurate quantitative maps of T1, T2, proton density, diffusion. • MRF may offer multiparametric imaging with high reproducibility, and high potential for multicenter/ multivendor studies