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Abstract #4237

Optimisation of T2*-Weighted MRI for Differential Diagnosis of MS at Clinical Field Strengths

Jennifer E. Dixon1, Ashley I. Simpson2, Niraj Mistry2, Nikos Evangelou2, Peter G. Morris1

1Sir Peter Mansfield Magnetic Resonance Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom; 2Academic Division of Clinical Neurology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom


7T T2*-weighted MRI has been shown to allow differentiation between MS lesions and microangiopathic white-matter (WM) lesions by the presence of a visible vein, and accurately predicts eventual diagnosis in patients who were otherwise unable to be diagnosed without further testing; however, the limited availability of 7T systems necessitates the translation of this technique to lower field. The aim of this work is to increase its sensitivity at 3T and 7T, and to compare the optimised sequences theoretically and experimentally in order to quantify the benefit of imaging at higher field, and to enable its use at clinical field strengths.