Quantitative assessment of acoustic noise levels during clinical spinal MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is crucial for spinal diagnosis but generates significant acoustic noise from rapidly switching gradient fields, affecting patient comfort and hearing. This study quantitatively assessed the acoustic noise during a standard 1.5T spinal MRI protocol across eight sub-sequences. Sound pressure levels were measured simultaneously in both the examination and control rooms to evaluate isolation effectiveness. Results showed highly dynamic, sequence-dependent noise profiles. The examination room reached peak sound pressure levels exceeding 100 dB (e.g., during STIR sequences), with LAeq reaching up to 90.8 dB in T2 TSE sagittal sequences. Significant acoustic attenuation (27–34 dB reduction in LAeq) was confirmed between the two environments, proving existing shielding is effective, especially at higher frequencies. These findings emphasize that noise varies significantly based on specific pulse sequences. Continued adherence to robust noise mitigation protocols is essential to safeguard patient hearing and enhance overall comfort during high-noise imaging procedures.