Spatial and temporal resolution in cardiovascular MR imaging: review and recommendations

Because of the nature of digital imaging, the number of pixels in a reconstructed image is often unrelated to the actual spatial resolution of the image. Similarly, the number of reconstructed frames of a dynamic or cine examination can be unrelated to the acquired temporal resolution. These discrepancies can result in misinterpretations and inaccuracies when image resolution is reported in the literature. The goal of this report is to clarify the differences between acquired and displayed resolution, both spatial and temporal, in magnetic resonance imaging. The effects of imaging parameters on acquired resolution are discussed, as are the mathematic effects of the reconstruction process on the displayed resolution of the resulting image. Finally, recommendations to authors are offered to promote accurate and unambiguous reporting of spatiotemporal resolution in the literature.