How does increasing slice thickness affect spatial resolution?

Increasing slice thickness reduces spatial resolution and increases partial volume averaging. When slice thickness is increased, the volume of tissue being imaged in a single slice also increases, leading to more adjacent tissues being included in the same voxel. This results in partial volume averaging, where different tissue types within the larger voxel contribute to the final signal, potentially obscuring the fine details of individual structures.

The relationship between slice thickness and resolution is fundamental in MRI; thinner slices can provide better differentiation of small structures, leading to improved spatial resolution. Conversely, thicker slices blur the distinction between different tissues, compromising the detail that can be visualized. This effect is crucial for radiologists and technicians to understand, as it impacts the diagnosis and interpretation of the images.