Jennifer Elizabeth Dixon1, Matthew J. Brookes1, Paul S. Morgan2,3, Ali M. Al-Radaideh1, Emma C. Tallantyre4, Nikos Evangelou4, Peter G. Morris1
1Sir Peter Mansfield Magnetic Resonance Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK; 2Radiology & Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA; 3Academic Radiology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK; 4Department of Clinical Neurology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK
T2*-weighted imaging at 7T has been suggested as a technique for the in vivo study of the spatial relationship between MS lesions and parenchymal blood vessels. In order to obtain an accurate picture of this relationship it is essential to determine and implement optimum scanning parameters for the detection of these vessels, as well as to ascertain the minimum size of a vessel that can be detected. We simulate the susceptibility effect around a vessel and predict optimum echo times for magnitude T2*-weighted and susceptibility-weighted images at both 3 and 7T, and show the increase in sensitivity available at 7T.