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Comparison of three multichannel transmit/receive radiofrequency coil configurations for anatomic and functional cardiac MRI at 7.0T: implications for clinical imaging

  • Magnetic Resonance
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Abstract

Objectives

To implement, examine, and compare three multichannel transmit/receive coil configurations for cardiovascular MR (CMR) at 7T.

Methods

Three radiofrequency transmit-receive (TX/RX) coils with 4-, 8-, and 16-coil elements were used. Ten healthy volunteers (seven males, age 28 ± 4 years) underwent CMR at 7T. For all three RX/TX coils, 2D CINE FLASH images of the heart were acquired. Cardiac chamber quantification, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) analysis, parallel imaging performance assessment, and image quality scoring were performed.

Results

Mean total examination time was 29 ± 5 min. All images obtained with the 8- and 16-channel coils were diagnostic. No significant difference in ejection fraction (EF) (P > 0.09) or left ventricular mass (LVM) (P > 0.31) was observed between the coils. The 8- and 16-channel arrays yielded a higher mean SNR in the septum versus the 4-channel coil. The lowest geometry factors were found for the 16-channel coil (mean ± SD 2.3 ± 0.5 for R = 4). Image quality was rated significantly higher (P < 0.04) for the 16-channel coil versus the 8- and 4-channel coils.

Conclusions

All three coil configurations are suitable for CMR at 7.0T under routine circumstances. A larger number of coil elements enhances image quality and parallel imaging performance but does not impact the accuracy of cardiac chamber quantification.

Key Points

• Cardiac chamber quantification using 7.0T magnetic resonance imaging is feasible.

• Examination times for cardiac chamber quantification at 7.0T match current clinical practice.

• Multichannel transceiver RF technology facilitates improved image quality and parallel imaging performance.

• Increasing the number of RF channels does not influence cardiac chamber quantification.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Berlin Ultrahigh Field Facility, Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Robert-Roessle-Strasse 10, 13125, Berlin, Germany

    Lukas Winter, Wolfgang Renz, Andreas Gräßl, Fabian Hezel, Christof Thalhammer, Florian von Knobelsdorff-Brenkenhoff, Jeanette Schulz-Menger & Thoralf Niendorf

  2. Department of Cardiology and Nephrology, HELIOS Klinikum Berlin-Buch, Berlin, Germany

    Florian von Knobelsdorff-Brenkenhoff & Jeanette Schulz-Menger

  3. Experimental and Clinical Research Center, A joint cooperation between the Charité Medical Faculty and the Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany

    Florian von Knobelsdorff-Brenkenhoff, Valeriy Tkachenko, Jeanette Schulz-Menger & Thoralf Niendorf

  4. Laboratory of Cardiac Energetics, National Institutes of Health/NHLBI, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Peter Kellman

  5. Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany

    Wolfgang Renz

Authors
  1. Lukas Winter
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  2. Peter Kellman
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  3. Wolfgang Renz
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  4. Andreas Gräßl
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  5. Fabian Hezel
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  6. Christof Thalhammer
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  7. Florian von Knobelsdorff-Brenkenhoff
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  8. Valeriy Tkachenko
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  9. Jeanette Schulz-Menger
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  10. Thoralf Niendorf
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thoralf Niendorf.

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Winter, L., Kellman, P., Renz, W. et al. Comparison of three multichannel transmit/receive radiofrequency coil configurations for anatomic and functional cardiac MRI at 7.0T: implications for clinical imaging. Eur Radiol 22, 2211–2220 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-012-2487-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-012-2487-1

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