Imaging of adult astrocytic brain tumours with 7 T MRI: preliminary results

Eur Radiol (2010) 20: 704713DOI 10.1007/s00330-009-1592-2 MAGNETIC RESONANCE

Imaging of adult astrocytic brain tumours with 7 T MRI: preliminary results

Christoph Moenninghoff Stefan MaderwaldJens M. Theysohn Oliver KraffMark E. LaddNicolai El Hindy Johannes van de Nes Michael ForstingIsabel Wanke

Received: 3 April 2009Accepted: 9 August 2009Published online: 18 September 2009 # European Society of Radiology 2009

C. Moenninghoff (*) . S. Maderwald .J. M. Theysohn . O. Kraff .M. E. Ladd . M. Forsting . I. Wanke Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology,University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrae 55,45147 Essen, Germanye-mail: [email protected].: [phone]Fax: [phone]

C. Moenninghoff . S. Maderwald .J. M. Theysohn . O. Kraff .M. E. Ladd . M. Forsting . I. Wanke Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging,University Duisburg-Essen,Essen, Germany

N. El HindyDepartment of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany

J. van de NesDepartment of Neuropathology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany

Abstract Purpose: In this study tumour vascularity and necrosis of intracranial astrocytomas were compared using 7 T and 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: Fifteen patients with histo-logically proven astrocytomas (WHO grades IIIV) were prospectively examined at 1.5 T (Magnetom Espree or Sonata) and 7 T (Magnetom 7 T, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) with T2*-w (weighted), T1-w with (only a subset of five patients at 7 T) and without contrast medium, T2-w and proton-density (PD)-w MRI. Clinically used 1.5 T sequences were adapted to 7 T. Histological findings and T2*-w MR images at both field strengths were compared for the presence of assumed tumour micro-

vascularity and necrosis. Two diffusely infiltrating astrocytomas, four anaplastic astrocytomas and nine glioblastomas were included. Results: T2*-w images depicted susceptibility patterns representing presumed tumour microvascularity in 8 out of 15 (53%) gliomas at 7 T compared with 5 out of 15 (33%) gliomas at 1.5 T. Compared with1.5 T MRI three additional necrotic tumour areas were depicted only on7 T T2- and T2*-w images of one glioblastoma. On T1-w MR images, contrast enhancement of five out of five glioblastomas was similar at both field strengths. Conclusion: 7 T gradient-echo sequences provide excellent image contrast of presumed microvasculature and necrosis in astrocytomas.

Keywords 7 Tesla . Astrocytoma . Microvascularity . Ultrahigh-field . MRI

Introduction

Since its clinical introduction in the 1980s, the magnetic field of magnetic...