title: Improving cerebral cortical magnetic resonance imaging using a readily available surface coil.
abstract: Subtle structural deformities of the cerebral cortex have been shown to be the cause of seizures in patients with refractory epilepsy. Brain imaging using high-resolution focused protocols with standard head coils may not provide sufficient image quality needed for evaluating subtle cortical abnormalities. The authors describe the use of a readily available shoulder coil placed over a specific area of the brain that has been clinically determined to enhance the signal to noise and resolution of the cortical surface. Delineating the cortical surface using a shoulder coil can help to detect subtle areas of cortical thickening, blurring of the gray-white matter junction, or focally abnormal gyral and sulcal patterns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Hospitals, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor 48109, USA. dmgh@umich.edu
authors.forename: Diana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Gomez-Hassan
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blaesing
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shattock
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Chenevert
mesh_terms: D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods