What is a disadvantage of increasing slice thickness?

Increasing slice thickness in MRI has a direct impact on the spatial resolution of the images produced. When slice thickness is increased, the volume of tissue that each slice represents also increases. This larger volume can lead to a loss of detail and clarity in the anatomical structures depicted in the images.

Thin slices provide higher resolution by allowing finer details to be captured because they represent smaller volumes of tissue. In contrast, thicker slices can blur or merge details from adjacent structures, leading to decreased resolution. Therefore, while a thicker slice may capture more tissue and can improve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and coverage of anatomy, it ultimately compromises the ability to distinguish small or closely spaced anatomical features, which is a critical factor in accurate diagnosis and assessment in MRI imaging.