Lale Umutlu MD, Presenter: Consultant, Bayer AG

Oliver Kraff MSc, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sonja Kinner MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Anja Fischer MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Stefan Maderwald PhD, MSc, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Michael Forsting MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Mark E. Ladd PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Thomas C. Lauenstein MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

MR imaging of the female pelvis has been established in clinical diagnostics for the assessment of possible uterine or ovarian pathologies. The increase of the magnetic field strength to 3 Tesla pelvis MRI has been proven beneficial with regards to improvement of the spatial resolution. Hence, with the successful introduction of 7 T MRI to in-vivo research body imaging, the aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and diagnostic potential of 7 T contrast-enhanced MR imaging of the female pelvis.

14 healthy female volunteers were examined on a 7T whole-body MR system (Magnetom 7T, Siemens Healthcare) utilizing a custom-built 8-channel transmit/receive radiofrequency body coil suitable for RF-shimming. The examination protocol included: 1) T1w fs 2D FLASH 2) T1w fs 3D FLASH 3) T2w TSE. For dynamic imaging, Gadobutrol was injected intravenously and 4 repetitive T1w 3D FLASH sequences were obtained. For visual qualitative image analysis of T1w imaging two readers assessed the delineation of (1) pelvic anatomy, (2) of vasculature, (3) tissue contrast and (4) overall image quality was assessed using a five-point scale (5= excellent vessel delineation to 1= non-diagnostic). For T2w MRI, the zonal anatomy of the uterus and the conspicuity of the ovaries were evaluated. Additionally, image impairment due to artifacts was assessed.

For the T1w sequences, 2D FLASH imaging was rated with higher scores for all assessed structures than 3D FLASH MRI, with highest scores for overall image quality (meancontrast-enhanced2D FLASH 4.80) and tissue contrast (meancontrast-enhanced2D FLASH 4.90). T2w TSE imaging yielded a moderate to high delineation of the zonal anatomy of the uterus with mean scores ranging from 3.60 for endometrium to 4.75for myometrium. Overall image impairment due to artifacts was rated strongest for T2w MRI (2.90) and least for 2D FLASH MRI (mean 4.05).

This pilot study of dedicated 7 Tesla MRI of the female pelvis demonstrates the feasibility and potential of in vivo ultra-high-field pelvic imaging, providing good overall image quality and transitioning the associated higher SNR into high spatiotemporal resolution imaging.

The high-quality delineation of anatomical details and non-enhanced vasculature may lead to a more accurate diagnosis of pelvic parenchymatous and vasculature disease using 7T MRI.

Umutlu, L, Kraff, O, Kinner, S, Fischer, A, Maderwald, S, Forsting, M, Ladd, M, Lauenstein, T, A New Look at the Female Pelvis: Ultra-high-Field (7T) MR Imaging.  Radiological Society of North America 2013 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, December 1 - December 6, 2013 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2013/13015882.html