title: Cerebral cavernous hemangiomas at 7 Tesla: initial experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cavernous malformations (cavernomas) occur in 0.4%-0.9% of the population. The most common symptoms of cavernous malformations are seizures. An improved detection of small cavernomas might possibly help to clarify cryptogenic seizures, which represent 30% of all seizures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of magnetic resonance imaging at a field strength of 7 T in the detection of cavernomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten consecutive patients with known cavernomas were enrolled in this study. First a T2*-weighted gradient echo sequence was performed at 1.5 T with a slice thickness of 6 mm in axial orientation. Subsequently, the examination was repeated at 7 T. Both examinations were independently read by two blinded senior neuroradiologists. Localization and dimension of the hypointensities were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One additional hypointensity was detected in one patient, which was not visible in the 1.5 T examination even retrospectively. In another patient with known cavernomatosis, innumerable new small hypointense lesions were detected at 7 T.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our small series suggests that ultra-high-field magnetic resonance imaging at 7 T improves the detection of cavernomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany. marc.schlamann@uni-due.de
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schlamann
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maderwald
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kraff
authors.forename: Jens M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Theysohn
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sure
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wanke
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ladd
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Forsting
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: Elke R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Gizewski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D020786:Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity