Department of Radiology, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Eur Radiol. 2012 Nov;22(11):2304-6. doi: 10.1007/s00330-012-2552-9. Epub 2012 Jul 21.
High field MRI operating at 3 T is increasingly being used in the field of neuroradiology on the grounds that higher magnetic field strength should theoretically lead to a higher diagnostic accuracy in the diagnosis of several disease entities. This Editorial discusses the exhaustive review by Wardlaw and colleagues of research comparing 3 T MRI with 1.5 T MRI in the field of neuroradiology. Interestingly, the authors found no convincing evidence of improved image quality, diagnostic accuracy, or reduced total examination times using 3 T MRI instead of 1.5 T MRI. These findings are highly relevant since a new generation of high field MRI systems operating at 7 T has recently been introduced.
• Higher magnetic field strengths do not necessarily lead to a better diagnostic accuracy. • Disadvantages of high field MR systems have to be considered in clinical practice. • Higher field strengths are needed for functional imaging, spectroscopy, etc. • Disappointingly there are few direct comparisons of 1.5 and 3 T MRI. • Whether the next high field MR generation (7 T) will improve diagnostic accuracy has to be investigated.
高磁场磁共振成像（MRI）在 3T 场强下的应用在神经放射学领域越来越广泛，其理论基础是更高的磁场强度应能提高几种疾病实体的诊断准确性。本社论讨论了 Wardlaw 及其同事对神经放射学领域中 3T MRI 与 1.5T MRI 比较的研究进行的详尽回顾。有趣的是，作者发现使用 3T MRI 而不是 1.5T MRI 并不能提供令人信服的证据表明图像质量、诊断准确性或总检查时间有所改善。这些发现非常重要，因为最近推出了新一代的 7T 高磁场 MRI 系统。
更高的磁场强度不一定能提高诊断准确性。
在临床实践中必须考虑高磁场磁共振系统的缺点。
功能成像、光谱学等需要更高的场强。
令人失望的是，1.5T 和 3T MRI 的直接比较很少。
下一代高场磁共振系统（7T）是否能提高诊断准确性仍有待研究。
