by Winfried A. Willinek, Hans H. Schild Department of Radiology, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, D-53105 Bonn, Germany
The SNR increase at 3.0 T could theoretically be utilized to improve lesion detection in inflammatory cerebral disease, e.g. multiple sclerosis (MS). Bachmann et al. investigated 22 patients with MS both on a 1.5 and a 3.0 T system with FLAIR using the same spatial resolution. Bachmann et al. found that significantly more lesions were seen on the 3.0 T images and lesion conspicuity was scored to be better at 3.0 T. Wattjes et al. performed a prospective intra individual comparison between 1.5 and 3.0 T brain imaging in 40 patients with clinically isolated syndromes suggestive of MS.
He reported a significantly higher sensitivity in the detection of inflammatory lesion at 3.0 T as compared to 1.5 T. Translating these results to the clinically relevant McDonald classification in a subgroup of 19 patients, Wattjes et al. found that one patient turned from McDonald negative to McDonald positive. Clinically, the classification according to the 3.0 T MRI means for the individual patient a much higher probability of developing definite MS than it was suspected at 1.5 T MRI. The advantage of 3.0 T over 1.5 T in patients with clinically isolated syndromes may be the diagnosis of more subtle changes in the white matter and the better prediction of the development of definite MS as well as the course of the disease. Potential implications of evidence-based findings might be the early treatment and the beginning of rehabilitation. Of high clinical relevance is already today the difference in the clinical score according to the field strength: in average, patients in the comparative study by Wattjes were scored one Barkhof score higher on 3.0 T MRI as compared to the corresponding 1.5 T MRI.
In a study of 25 patients with MS, Sicotte et al. reported a 21% increase in the number of detected contrast enhancing lesions, a 30% increase in enhancing lesion volume and a 10% increase in total lesion volume on 3.0 T imaging relative to 1.5 T imaging, respectively. Furthers multi-center studies are needed and underway to confirm these initial findings and to investigate the role of 3.0 TMR imaging in MS with respect to its implication for therapy, outcome and disability. Recent studies suggest already that 3.0 T may have an impact on the MS classification and the currently used scores might have to be revised.
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Clinical advantages of 3.0 T MRI over 1.5
Home » CCSVI Vancouver Diagnostics Centre » Clinical advantages of 3.0 T MRI over 1.5
by Winfried A. Willinek, Hans H. Schild Department of Radiology, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, D-53105 Bonn, Germany
The SNR increase at 3.0 T could theoretically be utilized to improve lesion detection in inflammatory cerebral disease, e.g. multiple sclerosis (MS). Bachmann et al. investigated 22 patients with MS both on a 1.5 and a 3.0 T system with FLAIR using the same spatial resolution. Bachmann et al. found that significantly more lesions were seen on the 3.0 T images and lesion conspicuity was scored to be better at 3.0 T. Wattjes et al. performed a prospective intra individual comparison between 1.5 and 3.0 T brain imaging in 40 patients with clinically isolated syndromes suggestive of MS.
He reported a significantly higher sensitivity in the detection of inflammatory lesion at 3.0 T as compared to 1.5 T. Translating these results to the clinically relevant McDonald classification in a subgroup of 19 patients, Wattjes et al. found that one patient turned from McDonald negative to McDonald positive. Clinically, the classification according to the 3.0 T MRI means for the individual patient a much higher probability of developing definite MS than it was suspected at 1.5 T MRI. The advantage of 3.0 T over 1.5 T in patients with clinically isolated syndromes may be the diagnosis of more subtle changes in the white matter and the better prediction of the development of definite MS as well as the course of the disease. Potential implications of evidence-based findings might be the early treatment and the beginning of rehabilitation. Of high clinical relevance is already today the difference in the clinical score according to the field strength: in average, patients in the comparative study by Wattjes were scored one Barkhof score higher on 3.0 T MRI as compared to the corresponding 1.5 T MRI.
In a study of 25 patients with MS, Sicotte et al. reported a 21% increase in the number of detected contrast enhancing lesions, a 30% increase in enhancing lesion volume and a 10% increase in total lesion volume on 3.0 T imaging relative to 1.5 T imaging, respectively. Furthers multi-center studies are needed and underway to confirm these initial findings and to investigate the role of 3.0 TMR imaging in MS with respect to its implication for therapy, outcome and disability. Recent studies suggest already that 3.0 T may have an impact on the MS classification and the currently used scores might have to be revised.