Principles of Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Signal Processing Perspective (IEEE Press Series on Biomedical Engineering) [Hardcover]

Magnetic resonance has recently recieved many riches in the form of excellent, definitive texts that have bundled together the advances of the last 20 or so years. Drs. Liang and Lauterbur have added to this trove by writing a text that goes beyond the standard descriptions of magnetic resonance image formation and including many advanced techniques available today, some of which they originated. The ideal audience for this text includes scientists, engineers, and physicians actively developing MRI applications from the physics on up. Though containing many recent developments it contains a core of medical imaging information that will not be outdated. The mathematical depth is sufficient to serve as a reference of basic and sophisticated methods but with enough pedagogical information to tutor the interested student. Liang and Lauterbur should be on the shelf of any serious professional or insightful student.

The selection of the chapters and the overall coverage of this book are excellent. It provides an outstanding and detailed description of MR physics and of how MR signals are generated and processed. However, not being an engineer or a physicist but a MD interested in MRI, I had some problems with the mathematical background required to understand the formulas used in this book. I feel that the book would be greatly improved if a more detailed explanation to the mathematics were given. At this point, I would recommend this book to graduate students or Ph.D.'s in physics, in biomedical or in electrical engineering, who want to understand in detail the principles of MR signal generation and processing. Because of the somewhat complicated mathematics, the book might be somewhat less destined, but still of interest, to radiologists and MRI physicians who, like me, want to enhance their understanding of MR physics and signal processing.

First let me describe the book as to its production quality. This is one of the typical IEEE productions, namely the paper quality is on par with your local newspaper, the binding cracks upon opening, and they have the annoying "enhancements" of shading examples in gray which often makes them unreadable. I have had this problem with most IEEE books and for the price they charge they should at least provide some quality in production.

Now to the content. The authors provide a comprehensive and detailed analysis of MRI and signal processing.

My concerns relate to the following issues:

1. MRI can be quite difficult. The reader must first understand the physics, then the signaling to effect a response signal, then the modulation of the response so as to select voxels to be detected, and then the Fourier analysis which produces the image. The reader, if approaching this for the first time, even a well educated signal processing engineer, should have a pathway to follow. The authors fail in this element. All the information is there, yet one must construct the framework.

2. Certain equations are critical. Others take one along the path. For example, Eq 3.150 and 3.154 are essential. They are what makes MRI. However the authors just slide from one to the other and then from Eq 4.1-4.5 use these without regard to a reasonable transition. They introduce a function M, and one suspects it may be M(w) or M(z) or M(t). Having taught material like this at MIT and written books on the subject of signal processing, one must be careful to delineate key transitions and important equations.

3. The authors have lots of equations but one gets lost in which ones count and how one should follow the "bread crumbs" to use a metaphor. The classic book by Van Trees on Detection and Estimation was the "gold standard" for taking the reader and/or student along the path and delineating key points and conclusions. In this text the authors just seem to jumble every equation together with equal value.

4. The heart of MRI is the signals used to do phase and frequency transitions across the elements to be processed. The discussion in this book regarding that is, I feel, quite weak. One should be given a good intuitive feeling and then apply the mathematics. As I have often told my students, first explain what is happening and then apply the mathematics to "pretty it up". Here the authors have almost bludgeoned the reader with mathematics.

The book contains great pearls, yet the quality of the printing, not the authors' fault, and the jumbling of every equation possible, leaves the reader wondering. A better press, publisher, and a rewrite with focus and builds of ideas would make this a great and much needed contribution to the field. It is clear that the authors know their material, it just needs fine tuning.