PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - P. Balchandani AU - T.P. Naidich TI - Ultra-High-Field MR Neuroimaging AID - 10.3174/ajnr.A4180 DP - 2014 Dec 18 TA - American Journal of Neuroradiology 4099 - http://www.ajnr.org/content/early/2014/12/18/ajnr.A4180.short 4100 - http://www.ajnr.org/content/early/2014/12/18/ajnr.A4180.full AB - SUMMARY: At ultra-high magnetic fields, such as 7T, MR imaging can noninvasively visualize the brain in unprecedented detail and through enhanced contrast mechanisms. The increased SNR and enhanced contrast available at 7T enable higher resolution anatomic and vascular imaging. Greater spectral separation improves detection and characterization of metabolites in spectroscopic imaging. Enhanced blood oxygen level–dependent contrast affords higher resolution functional MR imaging. Ultra-high-field MR imaging also facilitates imaging of nonproton nuclei such as sodium and phosphorus. These improved imaging methods may be applied to detect subtle anatomic, functional, and metabolic abnormalities associated with a wide range of neurologic disorders, including epilepsy, brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer disease, and psychiatric conditions. At 7T, however, physical and hardware limitations cause conventional MR imaging pulse sequences to generate artifacts, requiring specialized pulse sequences and new hardware solutions to maximize the high-field gain in signal and contrast. Practical considerations for ultra-high-field MR imaging include cost, siting, and patient experience. Abbreviations B0magnetic fieldB1radiofrequency fieldBOLDblood oxygen level–dependentCT-PRESSconstant time point-resolved spectroscopic sequenceITSSintratumoral susceptibility signalMRSIMR spectroscopic imagingRFradiofrequencySARspecific absorption rateWHOWorld Health Organization