Subject-Specific SAR Maps through Conventional MRI Imaging

Motivation: To enable real-time SAR monitoring in MRI examinations, particularly when numerical simulations are not feasible. Goal(s): This work aimed to explore the feasibility of obtaining subject-specific image-based SAR maps directly from conventional MRI sequences in vivo. Approach: The tissue electrical conductivities were characterized using an MRI phase-based electrical properties tomography approach, and the electric field distribution was measured by applying Ampère's law on the B1 field obtained from B1 mapping. Results: Subject-specific image-based SAR maps can be obtained from conventional MRI data. Median electrical conductivity values and retrieved SAR maps qualitatively agreed with existing literature. Impact: We analyze the feasibility of obtaining in vivo subject-specific image-based SAR maps directly from conventional MRI data. The electrical conductivity is obtained through electrical properties tomography (EPT) and the E-field is estimated from the B1 field.