Thomas R. Henry1, Marie Chupin2, Stphane
Lehricy3, Kamil Ugurbil4, Frederick Ott5,
Zhiyi Sha1, Pierre-Francois Van de Moortele5
1Neurology, University of Minnesota,
Minneapolis, MN, United States; 2Universite Pierre et Marie
Curie-Paris, Paris, France; 3Neuroradiology, Universite Pierre et
Marie Curie-Paris, Paris, France; 4Center for Magnetic Resonance
Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; 5Radiology,
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
Increased
contrast and spatial resolution at 7 T permitted the reliable detection of
internal architecture of the hippocampal formation. Submillimetric T2w images at 7 T
consistently resolved the continuous white matter band, which separates deep
portions of CA1-3 from CA4 and the dentate hilus. The resulting accuracy permitted
intrahippocampal (subregional) volumetry.
These preliminary results strongly support expectations that brain
imaging at very high magnetic field may allow for a more accurate patient
classification based on qualitative and quantitative information that is
difficult or impossible to collect reliably at lower field.