RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Ultra-High-Field MR Neuroimaging
JF American Journal of Neuroradiology
JO Am. J. Neuroradiol.
FD American Society of Neuroradiology
DO 10.3174/ajnr.A4180
A1 P. Balchandani
A1 T.P. Naidich
YR 2014
UL http://www.ajnr.org/content/early/2014/12/18/ajnr.A4180.abstract
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