Investigation of nonuniform bias field in quantitative analysis of neuromelanin-sensitive MR imaging

Neuromelanin-sensitive MR imaging is an indirect method for assessing dopamine function. However, quantitative and objective analysis of NM-MRI is difficult because of field inhomogeneities or motion artifacts. To investigate the effect of nonunifrom bias field on quantitative analysis in NM-MRI, synthesized random bias fields were multiplied and compared the quantitative analysis using SN ROIs and reference ROIs. The results show a weak nonuniform bias field can reduce the reliability of quantitative analysis.