A new guidelines paper from the ISMRM Quantitative MR Study group gives an overview and recommendations for the development, validation, qualification, and dissemination of quantitative MR methods. Led by Diego Hernando (past Chair of the ISMRM qMR Study Group), this paper frames the development of quantitative MR methods in terms of two central technical performance properties, i.e., bias and precision. Although qMR is confounded by undesired effects, methods with low bias and high precision can be iteratively developed and validated. For illustration, two distinct qMR methods are discussed throughout the manuscript: quantification of liver proton-density fat fraction, and cardiac T1 . These examples demonstrate the expansion of qMR methods from research centers toward widespread clinical dissemination. The overall goal of this article is to provide trainees, researchers, and clinicians with essential guidelines for the development and validation of qMR methods, as well as an understanding of necessary steps and potential pitfalls for the dissemination of quantitative MR in research and in the clinic.
Weingärtner S, Desmond KL, Obuchowski NA, Baessler B, Zhang Y, Biondetti E, Ma D, Golay X, Boss MA, Gunter JL, Keenan KE, Hernando D; ISMRM Quantitative MR Study Group. Development, validation, qualification, and dissemination of quantitative MR methods: Overview and recommendations by the ISMRM quantitative MR study group. Magn Reson Med. 2021 Nov 26. doi: 10.1002/mrm.29084. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34825741. DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29084.