title: 7 T renal MRI: challenges and promises.
abstract: The progression to 7 Tesla (7 T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) yields promises of substantial increase in signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio. This increase can be traded off to increase image spatial resolution or to decrease acquisition time. However, renal 7 T MRI remains challenging due to inhomogeneity of the radiofrequency field and due to specific absorption rate (SAR) constraints. A number of studies has been published in the field of renal 7 T imaging. While the focus initially was on anatomic imaging and renal MR angiography, later studies have explored renal functional imaging. Although anatomic imaging remains somewhat limited by inhomogeneous excitation and SAR constraints, functional imaging results are promising. The increased SNR at 7 T has been particularly advantageous for blood oxygen level-dependent and arterial spin labelling MRI, as well as sodium MR imaging, thanks to changes in field-strength-dependent magnetic properties. Here, we provide an overview of the currently available literature on renal 7 T MRI. In addition, we provide a brief overview of challenges and opportunities in renal 7 T MR imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Post box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anneloes
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6562-7494
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Boer
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Post box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands. j.m.hoogduin-2@umcutrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Johannes M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hoogduin
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Blankestijn
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Centre for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Xiufeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Post box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Luijten
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Centre for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Metzger
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Post box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Alexander J E
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Raaijmakers
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Lale
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Umutlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Post box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.|Philips Healthcare, Best, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Fredy
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Post box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leiner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009399:Nephrons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio; D013113:Spin Labels
chemical_list: D013113:Spin Labels; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: 7 T MRI; Kidney; RF shimming; Renal MRI