High Resolution Anatomical Imaging of the Spinal Cord at 7 T

Eric Edward Sigmund¹, Caixia Hu¹, Giselle Suero¹, Joseph Helpern¹

This work presents results of novel coil development and protocol optimization for imaging of the spinal cord at the ultra-high field 7 T platform. A single-channel loop coil and a 4-chanel cervical spine cradle array were employed for anatomical c-spine imaging, using standard T2-weighted FLASH and TSE protocols. High resolution results were obtained allowing clear gray/white matter differentiation as well as depiction of small secondary structures (denticulate ligament, nerve roots, rostral-caudal vasculature). The enhanced level of detail provided by the combination of high field and coil engineering may be useful for monitoring neuropathy, injury, or surgical planning.