Lale Umutlu1, Andreas K. Bitz2,
Stefan Maderwald3, Stephan Orzada3, Sonja Kinner4,
Oliver Kraff, Irina Brote, Susanne C. Ladd, Gerald Antoch, Mark E. Ladd3,
Harald H. Quick3, Thomas C. Lauenstein
1Department of Diagnostic and
Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen ,
Essen, Germany; 2Erwin L.Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance
Imaging, Essen, Germany; 32Erwin L.Hahn Institute for Magnetic
Resonance Imaging; 41Department of Diagnostic and Interventional
Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen
Aim
of this study was to investigate the feasibility of 7 Tesla liver MRI, with
optimization and implementation of a dedicated examination protocol. 8
healthy subjects were examined at a 7T whole-body MR system utilizing a
custom-built 8-channel RF transmit/receive body coil. Delineation of liver
vessels, overall image quality and presence of artifacts was assessed. T1w
imaging revealed very good delineation of liver vasculature, with best
imaging scores for T1w 2D FLASH imaging. T2w TSE imaging remained strongly
impaired by artifacts. This pilot study of dedicated hepatic imaging at 7
Tesla demonstrates the feasibility of in vivo ultra-high-field liver imaging.