Open AccessNew Prospects for Ultra-High-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis
Author(s) -
Benjamin Victor Ineichen,
Erin Beck,
Marco Piccirelli,
Daniel S. Reich
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
investigative radiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.33
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1536-0210
pISSN - 0020-9996
DOI - 10.1097/rli.0000000000000804
Subject(s) - multiple sclerosis , magnetic resonance imaging , ultra high frequency , medicine , radiology , computer science , telecommunications , psychiatry
There is growing interest in imaging multiple sclerosis (MS) through the ultra-high-field (UHF) lens, which currently means a static magnetic field strength of 7 T or higher. Because of higher signal-to-noise ratio and enhanced susceptibility effects, UHF magnetic resonance imaging improves conspicuity of MS pathological hallmarks, among them cortical demyelination and the central vein sign. This could, in turn, improve confidence in MS diagnosis and might also facilitate therapeutic monitoring of MS patients. Furthermore, UHF imaging offers unique insight into iron-related pathology, leptomeningeal inflammation, and spinal cord pathologies in neuroinflammation. Yet, limitations such as the longer scanning times to achieve improved resolution and incipient safety data on implanted medical devices need to be considered. In this review, we discuss applications of UHF imaging in MS, its advantages and limitations, and practical aspects of UHF in the clinical setting.