Oliver Kraff1,2, Lale Umutlu1,2,
Sonja Kinner2, Stefan Maderwald1,2, Stephan Orzada1,2,
Andreas K. Bitz1,2, Michael Forsting2, Mark E. Ladd1,2,
Thomas C. Lauenstein2
1Erwin L. Hahn Institute
for MRI, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; 2Department of
Diagnostic & Interventional Radiology & Neuroradiology, University
Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
7 Tesla MR imaging of the female pelvis in humans was investigated using a custom-built eight-channel RF transmit/receive body coil and RF shimming. An examination protocol with a strong clinical focus was optimized and implemented. Six healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Images were analyzed qualitatively by two senior radiologists. Using subject-specific RF shimming, B1 inhomogeneities could be effectively reduced with only minor effects on the SAR limits. Not only gradient echo but also typical clinical and SAR-intensive sequences such as TSE performed quite well.