Houshang Amiri1, 2, Mangala Srinivas2, Carl Figdor2, Jolanda de Vries2, Arend Heerschap1
1Department of Radiology , Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands; 2Department of Tumor Immunology, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
We introduce 19F MRI and its advantages. We focus on the use of 19F MRI for molecular and cellular imaging and 19F signal quantification. The effect of hardware and RF coils; software, acquisition sequences and imaging parameters, on sensitivity are discussed. In particular we focus on the optimization of signal to noise acquired per unit time. The possible clinical application of 19F MRI will be addressed, together with safety concerns. This educational review endeavours to make the technical aspects of MRI, particularly 19F MRI, understandable to biologists and medical researchers.