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Advanced MR methods at ultra-high field (7 Tesla) for clinical musculoskeletal applications

  • Musculoskeletal
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Abstract

Objectives

This article provides an overview of the initial clinical results of musculoskeletal studies performed at 7 Tesla, with special focus on sodium imaging, new techniques such as chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) and T2* imaging, and multinuclear MR spectroscopy.

Methods

Sodium imaging was clinically used at 7 T in the evaluation of patients after cartilage repair procedures because it enables the GAG content to be monitored over time. Sodium imaging and T2* mapping allow insights into the ultra-structural composition of the Achilles tendon and help detect early disease. Chemical exchange saturation transfer was, for the first time, successfully applied in the clinical set-up at 7 T in patients after cartilage repair surgery. The potential of phosphorus MR spectroscopy in muscle was demonstrated in a comparison study between 3 and 7 T, with higher spectral resolution and significantly shorter data acquisition times at 7 T.

Results

These initial clinical studies demonstrate the potential of ultra-high field MR at 7 T, with the advantage of significantly improved sensitivity for other nuclei, such as 23Na (sodium) and 31P (phosphorus).

Conclusions

The application of non-proton imaging and spectroscopy provides new insights into normal and abnormal physiology of musculoskeletal tissues, particularly cartilage, tendons, and muscles.

Key Points

• 7 T magnetic resonance provides significantly improved sensitivity for 23 Na and 31 P.

• Initial clinical studies have now demonstrated ultra-high field MR operating at 7 T.

• 7 T provides new insights into normal and abnormal physiology of musculoskeletal tissues.

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Acknowledgments

Funding for this study was provided by Vienna Spots of Excellence des Wiener Wissenschafts- und Technologie-Fonds (WWTF) and Vienna Advanced Imaging Center; grant sponsor: VIACLIC and the Slovak Scientific Grant Agency VEGA; grant number: 2/0090/11.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MR Centre—High Field MR, Department of Radiology, Medical University of Vienna/Vienna General Hospital, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090, Vienna, Austria

    Siegfried Trattnig, Štefan Zbýň, Benjamin Schmitt, Klaus Friedrich, Vladimir Juras, Pavol Szomolanyi & Wolfgang Bogner

  2. Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology, Vienna, Austria

    Siegfried Trattnig

  3. Department of Imaging Methods, Institute of Measurement Science, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, Sk-84219, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Vladimir Juras & Pavol Szomolanyi

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  1. Siegfried Trattnig
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  2. Štefan Zbýň
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  3. Benjamin Schmitt
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  4. Klaus Friedrich
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  5. Vladimir Juras
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  6. Pavol Szomolanyi
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  7. Wolfgang Bogner
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Correspondence to Siegfried Trattnig.

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Trattnig, S., Zbýň, Š., Schmitt, B. et al. Advanced MR methods at ultra-high field (7 Tesla) for clinical musculoskeletal applications. Eur Radiol 22, 2338–2346 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-012-2508-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-012-2508-0

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