title: Visualization of human inner ear anatomy with high-resolution MR imaging at 7T: initial clinical assessment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In many centers, MR imaging of the inner ear and auditory pathway performed on 1.5T or 3T systems is part of the preoperative work-up of cochlear implants. We investigated the applicability of clinical inner ear MR imaging at 7T and compared the visibility of inner ear structures and nerves within the internal auditory canal with images acquired at 3T.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen patients with sensorineural hearing loss eligible for cochlear implantation underwent examinations on 3T and 7T scanners. Two experienced head and neck radiologists evaluated the 52 inner ear datasets. Twenty-four anatomic structures of the inner ear and 1 overall score for image quality were assessed by using a 4-point grading scale for the degree of visibility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The visibility of 11 of the 24 anatomic structures was rated higher on the 7T images. There was no significant difference in the visibility of 13 anatomic structures and the overall quality rating. A higher incidence of artifacts was observed in the 7T images.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The gain in SNR at 7T yielded a more detailed visualization of many anatomic structures, especially delicate ones, despite the challenges accompanying MR imaging at a high magnetic field.
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Otorhinolaryngology (M.A.v.d.J., J.J.B., J.H.M.F.).
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van der Jagt
authors.affiliation: Radiology (W.M.B., M.J.V., A.G.W., B.M.V.) C.J. Gorter Center for High-Field MRI (W.M.B., M.J.V., A.G.W.).
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Brink
authors.affiliation: Radiology (W.M.B., M.J.V., A.G.W., B.M.V.) C.J. Gorter Center for High-Field MRI (W.M.B., M.J.V., A.G.W.).
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Versluis
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology (S.C.A.S., B.M.V.), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: S C A
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Steens
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Otorhinolaryngology (M.A.v.d.J., J.J.B., J.H.M.F.).
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Briaire
authors.affiliation: Radiology (W.M.B., M.J.V., A.G.W., B.M.V.) C.J. Gorter Center for High-Field MRI (W.M.B., M.J.V., A.G.W.).
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Otorhinolaryngology (M.A.v.d.J., J.J.B., J.H.M.F.) Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (J.H.M.F.), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands J.H.M.Frijns@lumc.nl.
authors.forename: J H M
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Frijns
authors.affiliation: Radiology (W.M.B., M.J.V., A.G.W., B.M.V.) Department of Radiology (S.C.A.S., B.M.V.), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Verbist
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016477:Artifacts; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000294:innervation; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies