Clinical 7-T MRI for Neuroradiology: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Ongoing Challenges

Overview

Journal Neuroradiology

Specialties Neurology
Radiology

Date 2021 Jan 3

PMID 33388947

Citations 11

Authors

Brian J Burkett

Andrew J Fagan

Joel P Felmlee

David F Black

John I Lane

John D Port

Charlotte H Rydberg

Kirk M Welker

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Since the relatively recent regulatory approval for clinical use in both Europe and North America, 7-Tesla (T) MRI has been adopted for clinical practice at our institution. Based on this experience, this article reviews the unique features of 7-T MRI neuroimaging and addresses the challenges of establishing a 7-T MRI clinical practice. The underlying fundamental physics principals of high-field strength MRI are briefly reviewed. Scanner installation, safety considerations, and artifact mitigation techniques are discussed. Seven-tesla MRI case examples of neurologic diseases including epilepsy, vascular abnormalities, and tumor imaging are presented to illustrate specific applications of 7-T MRI. The advantages of 7-T MRI in conjunction with advanced neuroimaging techniques such as functional MRI are presented. Seven-tesla MRI produces more detailed information and, in some cases, results in specific diagnoses where previous 3-T studies were insufficient. Still, persistent technical issues for 7-T scanning present ongoing challenges for radiologists.

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