Human leptomeningeal and cortical vascular anatomy of the cerebral cortex at 8 Tesla.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this work was to describe the human leptomeningeal and cortical vascular anatomy as seen at high resolution on an 8 T UHFMRI system.


METHODS
With a 1024 x 1024 matrix, axial gradient echo images of the cerebral cortex were acquired on a human volunteer at 8 T with TR 500 ms, TE 16 ms, flip angle 22.5 degrees, bandwidth 53 kHz, and slice thickness 2.84 mm. The same subject was evaluated at 1.5 T using similar parameters. The images were then reviewed in detail and compared with known cortical and leptomeningeal vascular anatomy.


RESULTS
Two hundred forty micron in-plane resolution images of the human brain were acquired at 8 T without evident artifact from susceptibility distortions, RF penetration, or dielectric resonances. The CSF, gray matter, and white matter structures were well discerned. The microscopic leptomeningeal vascular anatomy was well visualized, and the course of small perforating cortical vessels could be followed from the cortical surface to the white matter junction.


CONCLUSIONS
Initial 8 T images of the brain demonstrate detailed leptomeningeal and cortical vascular anatomy.
Burgess
R E
RE
Center for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.
Yu
Y
Y
Christoforidis
G A
GA
Bourekas
E C
EC
Chakeres
D W
DW
Spigos
D
D
Kangarlu
A
A
Abduljalil
A M
AM
Robitaille
P M
PM
D001099:Arachnoid / Q000098:blood supply*; D016477:Artifacts; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply*; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D010841:Pia Mater / Q000098:blood supply*; D011846:Radio Waves