MR imaging and spectroscopy at 7 Tesla

Abstract

Clinical MRI studies are generally performed at field strengths of either 1.5 or 3T. Increasing the magnetic field strength increases the size of the MR signal, allowing images to be recorded at higher spatial resolution, or in a shorter scan time with the same quality. For MR spectroscopy (MRS), there is an additional advantage that the spectral resolution increases, allowing more compounds to be detected, and more accurately quantified. However, many technical challenges have to be overcome in order to fully realize the expected advantages of higher magnetic fields. This presentation will review MRI and MRS for studies of the human brain at 7T. Some technical issues will be discussed, as well as example applications in neurodegenerative disease (Huntington’s disease) and schizophrenia.