Clinical 7-T MRI for neuroradiology: strengths, weaknesses, and ongoing challenges

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.