Clinical Neuroimaging Using 7 T MRI: Challenges and Prospects

Area of Science:

• Radiology and Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Ultrahigh field (UHF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners, particularly at 7 Tesla (7T), offer enhanced signal-to-noise ratio and spectral resolution compared to conventional clinical scanners.
• Despite significant advancements, the widespread clinical adoption of UHF MRI is hindered by unique technical and medical challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To delineate the primary medical and technical challenges associated with implementing UHF scanners in clinical settings.
• To present practical solutions and strategies for overcoming these UHF MRI limitations.
• To compare UHF scanners with routine clinical MRI systems, highlighting advantages and disadvantages.

Main Methods:

• Review of established and emerging UHF MRI sequences ready for clinical practice, including susceptibility-weighted imaging, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, 3D time-of-flight, and diffusion-weighted imaging.
• Explanation of the technical principles underlying these UHF sequences.
• Discussion of advanced techniques such as diffusion tensor imaging, spectroscopy, and functional imaging at 7T MRI.

Main Results:

• Identification of key challenges in UHF MRI, encompassing hardware, radiofrequency (RF) field homogeneity, safety, and image artifacts.
• Demonstration of specific UHF sequences and their technical underpinnings.
• Overview of the main clinical applications, particularly in neuroradiology, and associated side effects.

Conclusions:

• UHF MRI, especially at 7T, holds immense potential for clinical diagnostics, particularly in neuroradiology, due to superior image quality.
• Addressing the identified technical and medical challenges is crucial for the successful integration of UHF MRI into routine clinical practice.
• Further research and technological development are necessary to fully realize the clinical benefits of UHF MRI.