title: Cranial fixation plates in cerebral magnetic resonance imaging: a 3 and 7 Tesla in vivo image quality study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assesses and quantifies impairment of postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 7 Tesla (T) after implantation of titanium cranial fixation plates (CFPs) for neurosurgical bone flap fixation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group comprised five patients who were intra-individually examined with 3 and 7 T MRI preoperatively and postoperatively (within 72 h/3 months) after implantation of CFPs. Acquired sequences included T1-weighted magnetization-prepared rapid-acquisition gradient-echo (MPRAGE), T2-weighted turbo-spin-echo (TSE) imaging, and susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI). Two experienced neurosurgeons and a neuroradiologist rated image quality and the presence of artifacts in consensus reading.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Minor artifacts occurred around the CFPs in MPRAGE and T2 TSE at both field strengths, with no significant differences between 3 and 7 T. In SWI, artifacts were accentuated in the early postoperative scans at both field strengths due to intracranial air and hemorrhagic remnants. After resorption, the brain tissue directly adjacent to skull bone could still be assessed. Image quality after 3 months was equal to the preoperative examinations at 3 and 7 T.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Image quality after CFP implantation was not significantly impaired in 7 T MRI, and artifacts were comparable to those in 3 T MRI.
authors.affiliation: Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. bixia.chen@uk-essen.de.|Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany. bixia.chen@uk-essen.de.
authors.forename: Bixia
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7264-0010
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.|Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schoemberg
authors.affiliation: Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kraff
authors.affiliation: Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.|Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dammann
authors.affiliation: Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.|Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bitz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.|Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schlamann
authors.affiliation: Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.|High Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Harald H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Quick
authors.affiliation: Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.|Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ladd
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sure
authors.affiliation: Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.|Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Karsten H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Wrede
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016477:Artifacts; D001860:Bone Plates; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009493:Neurosurgery; D011184:Postoperative Period; D057234:Preoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014025:Titanium
keywords: 7 Tesla; Craniotomy; Magnetic resonance imaging; Postoperative; Titanium cranial fixation plates