title: Feasibility study: 7 T MRI in giant cell arteritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the detectability of vasculitic changes of the superficial cranial arteries with contrast-enhanced 7 T MRI in three patients with GCA and intraindividual comparison with 3 T MRI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three patients (two female, one male) with suspected GCA underwent contrast-enhanced T1-weighted high-resolution MRI at 3 T and 7 T magnetic field strength. The clinical diagnosis, based on criteria of the American College of Rheumatology, was confirmed by biopsy of the superficial temporal artery after MRI. MR images were visually assessed for detection of vasculitic mural contrast enhancement and vessel wall thickening of the superficial cranial arteries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both 3 T and 7 T MRI allows for visualisation of mural inflammatory changes and assessment of the vasculitic involvement pattern. Image quality of 7 T MRI was rated superior to image quality of 3 T MRI scans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  7 T MR imaging of vasculitic changes in patients with GCA is possible, and suggests superior image quality. Larger patient studies are necessary to quantify the diagnostic advantages of 7 T MRI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Visual Processing Laboratory, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goll
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thormann
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Visual Processing Laboratory, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hofmüller
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Friebe
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Visual Processing Laboratory, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Behrens-Baumann
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Thorsten A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Bley
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Visual Processing Laboratory, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany. michael.hoffmann@med.ovgu.de.|Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany. michael.hoffmann@med.ovgu.de.
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany.|Department Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, Institute for Experimental Physics, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.|Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Speck
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids
keywords: Giant cell arteritis; Magnetic resonance imaging; Morbus Horton; Temporal arteries; Ultra-high field MRI; Vasculitis