Potential applications of 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging in paediatric neuroimaging:Feasibility and challenges

The integration of 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging(7 T MRI)in adult patients has marked a revolutionary stride in radiology.In this article we explore the feasibility of 7 T MRI in paediatric practice,emphasizing its feasibility,applications,challenges,and safety considerations.The heightened resolution and tissue contrast of 7 T MRI offer unprecedented diagnostic accuracy,particularly in neuroimaging.Applications range from neuro-oncology to neonatal brain imaging,showcasing its efficacy in detecting subtle structural abnormalities and providing enhanced insights into neurological conditions.Despite the promise,challenges such as high cost,discomfort,and safety concerns necessitate careful consideration.Research suggests that,with precautions,7 T MRI is feasible in paediatrics,yet ongoing studies and safety assessments are imperative.

From strength to precision: A systematic review exploring the clinical utility of 7-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging in abdominal imaging

BACKGROUND After approval for clinical use in 2017 early investigations of ultra-high-field abdominal magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)have demonstrated the feasibility as well as diagnostic capabilities of liver,kidney,and prostate MRI at 7-Tesla.However,the elevation of the field strength to 7-Tesla not only brought advantages to abdominal MRI but also presented considerable challenges and drawbacks,primarily stemming from heightened artifacts and limitations in Specific Absorption Rate,etc.Furthermore,evidence in the literature is relatively scarce concerning human studies in comparison to phantom/animal studies which necessitates an investigation into the evidence so far in humans and summarizing all relevant evidence.AIM To offer a comprehensive overview of current literature on clinical abdominal 7T MRI that emphasizes current trends,details relevant challenges,and provides a concise set of potential solutions.METHODS This systematic review adheres to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.A PubMed search,utilizing Medical Subject Headings terms such as"7-Tesla"and organ-specific terms,was conducted for articles published between January 1,1985,and July 25,2023.Eligibility criteria included studies exploring 7T MRI for imaging human abdominal organs,encompassing various study types(in-vivo/ex-vivo,method development,reviews/meta-analyses).Exclusion criteria involved animal studies and those lacking extractable data.Study selection involved initial identification via title/abstract,followed by a full-text review by two researchers,with discrepancies resolved through discussion.Data extraction covered publication details,study design,population,sample size,7T MRI protocol,image characteristics,endpoints,and conclusions.RESULTS The systematic review included a total of 21 studies.The distribution of clinical 7T abdominal imaging studies revealed a predominant focus on the prostate(n=8),followed by the kidney(n=6)and the hepatobiliary system(n=5).Studies on these organs,and in the pancreas,demonstrated clear advantages at 7T.However,small bowel studies showed no significant improvements compared to traditional MRI at 1.5T.The majority of studies evaluated originated from Germany(n=10),followed by the Netherlands(n=5),the United States(n=5),Austria(n=2),the United Kingdom(n=1),and Italy(n=1).CONCLUSION Further increase of abdominal clinical MRI field strength to 7T demonstrated high imaging potential,yet also limitations mainly due to the inhomogeneous radiofrequency(RF)excitation field relative to lower field strengths.Hence,further optimization of dedicated RF coil elements and pulse sequences are expected to better optimize clinical imaging at high magnetic field strength.

Evaluating the role of 7-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging in neurosurgery: Trends in literature since clinical approval

BACKGROUND After approval for clinical use in 2017,early investigations of ultra-high-field abdominal magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)have demonstrated its feasibility as well as diagnostic capabilities in neuroimaging.However,there are no to few systematic reviews covering the entirety of its neurosurgical applications as well as the trends in the literature with regard to the aforementioned application.AIM To assess the impact of 7-Tesla MRI(7T MRI)on neurosurgery,focusing on its applications in diagnosis,treatment planning,and postoperative assessment,and to systematically analyze and identify patterns and trends in the existing literature related to the utilization of 7T MRI in neurosurgical contexts.METHODS A systematic search of PubMed was conducted for studies published between January 1,2017,and December 31,2023,using MeSH terms related to 7T MRI and neurosurgery.The inclusion criteria were:Studies involving patients of all ages,meta-analyses,systematic reviews,and original research.The exclusion criteria were:Pre-prints,studies with insufficient data(e.g.,case reports and letters),non-English publications,and studies involving animal subjects.Data synthesis involved standardized extraction forms,and a narrative synthesis was performed.RESULTS We identified 219 records from PubMed within our defined period,with no duplicates or exclusions before screening.After screening,125 articles were excluded for not meeting inclusion criteria,leaving 94 reports.Of these,2 were irrelevant to neurosurgery and 7 were animal studies,resulting in 85 studies included in our systematic review.Data were categorized by neurosurgical procedures and diseases treated using 7T MRI.We also analyzed publications by country and the number of 7T MRI facilities per country was also presented.Experi-mental studies were classified into comparison and non-comparison studies based on whether 7T MRI was compared to lower field strengths.CONCLUSION 7T MRI holds great potential in improving the characterization and understanding of various neurological and psychiatric conditions that may be neurosurgically treated.These include epilepsy,pituitary adenoma,Parkinson's disease,cerebrovascular diseases,trigeminal neuralgia,traumatic head injury,multiple sclerosis,glioma,and psychiatric disorders.Superiority of 7T MRI over lower field strengths was demonstrated in terms of image quality,lesion detection,and tissue characterization.Findings suggest the need for accelerated global distribution of 7T magnetic resonance systems and increased training for radiologists to ensure safe and effective integration into routine clinical practice.