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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
Assessing Cortical Cerebral Microinfarcts on High Resolution MR Images
Published on: November 20, 2015
Cerebral microbleeds on MR imaging: comparison between 1.5 and 7T
M M A Conijn1, M I Geerlings, G-J Biessels
1Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands. m.conijn@umcutrecht.nl
Background And Purpose:
The detection of microbleeds differs strongly between studies, due to differences in scan protocol. This study aims to compare the visualization of microbleeds with 3D T2*-weighted imaging at 1.5T with 3D dual-echo T2*-weighted imaging at 7T.
Materials And Methods:
Thirty-four patients (29 male; mean age, 58 ± 12 years) with atherosclerotic disease from the Second Manifestations of ARTerial Disease study were included. 3D T2*-weighted imaging at 1.5T and dual-echo T2*-weighted imaging at 7T were done in all patients. The presence and number of definite microbleeds were recorded on minimal intensity projections. Inter- and intraobserver reliability was assessed with Cohen κ test and the ICC. The difference in presence and number of microbleeds was tested with the McNemar test and Wilcoxon signed rank test.
Results:
The interobserver ICC at 7T was 0.61 and the intraobserver ICC was 0.94, whereas at 1.5T the interobserver ICC was 0.50 and the intraobserver ICC was 0.59. Microbleeds were detected in significantly more patients on 7T (50%) than on 1.5T scans (21%) (P = .001). The number of microbleeds was also higher at 7T (median, 0.5; range, 0-5) than on 1.5T (median, 0.0; range, 0-6) (P = .002).
Conclusions:
3D dual-echo T2*-weighted imaging at 7T results in better and more reliable detection of microbleeds compared with 3D T2*-weighted imaging at 1.5T.
Insights
High-field 7T MRI imaging significantly improves the detection and reliability of cerebral microbleeds compared to standard 1.5T MRI. This advanced technique offers better visualization of these small vascular lesions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Radiology
- Vascular Neurology
Background:
- Detection of cerebral microbleeds varies significantly across studies due to differing MRI protocols.
- Standard 1.5T MRI protocols may limit the sensitivity for identifying microbleeds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the visualization and detection of cerebral microbleeds using 3D T2*-weighted imaging at 1.5 Tesla (T) versus 3D dual-echo T2*-weighted imaging at 7T.
- To assess the reliability of microbleed detection at both magnetic field strengths.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-four patients with atherosclerotic disease underwent both 1.5T 3D T2*-weighted and 7T 3D dual-echo T2*-weighted MRI.
- Definite microbleeds were identified, and their presence and number were recorded.
- Inter- and intraobserver reliability were evaluated using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC).
Main Results:
- 7T MRI detected microbleeds in significantly more patients (50%) compared to 1.5T MRI (21%) (P = .001).
- The number of microbleeds identified was also higher at 7T (median 0.5) than at 1.5T (median 0.0) (P = .002).
- Interobserver reliability was higher at 7T (ICC = 0.61) than at 1.5T (ICC = 0.50), with excellent intraobserver reliability at both (0.94 for 7T, 0.59 for 1.5T).
Conclusions:
- 3D dual-echo T2*-weighted imaging at 7T provides superior detection of cerebral microbleeds compared to 1.5T imaging.
- The 7T protocol demonstrates enhanced reliability for identifying microbleeds, crucial for understanding cerebrovascular disease.
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