The traveling heads: multicenter brain imaging at 7 Tesla.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluates the inter-site and intra-site reproducibility of 7 Tesla brain imaging and compares it to literature values for other field strengths.


METHODS
The same two subjects were imaged at eight different 7 T sites. MP2RAGE, TSE, TOF, SWI, EPI as well as B1 and B0 field maps were analyzed quantitatively to assess inter-site reproducibility. Intra-site reproducibility was measured with rescans at three sites.


RESULTS
Quantitative measures of MP2RAGE scans showed high agreement. Inter-site and intra-site reproducibility errors were comparable to 1.5 and 3 T. Other sequences also showed high reproducibility between the sites, but differences were also revealed. The different RF coils used were the main source for systematic differences between the sites.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show for the first time that multi-center brain imaging studies of the supratentorial brain can be performed at 7 T with high reproducibility and similar reliability as at 3T. This study develops the basis for future large-scale 7 T multi-site studies.
Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Kokereiallee 7, 45141, Essen, Germany. Maximilian.Voelker@uni-due.de.
Maximilian N
MN
Voelker
Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Kokereiallee 7, 45141, Essen, Germany.
Oliver
O
Kraff
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany.
Daniel
D
Brenner
Department of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
Astrid
A
Wollrab
Berlin Ultrahigh Field Facility (B.U.F.F.), Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Oliver
O
Weinberger
Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (dkfz), Heidelberg, Germany.
Moritz C
MC
Berger
Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, High Field MR Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Simon
S
Robinson
Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, High Field MR Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Wolfgang
W
Bogner
Scannexus, Maastricht, Netherlands.
Christopher
C
Wiggins
Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.
Robert
R
Trampel
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany.
Tony
T
Stöcker
Berlin Ultrahigh Field Facility (B.U.F.F.), Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.|Experimental and Clinical Research Center, A Joint Cooperation Between the Charité Medical Faculty and the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Thoralf
T
Niendorf
Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Kokereiallee 7, 45141, Essen, Germany.|High Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Harald H
HH
Quick
Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Kokereiallee 7, 45141, Essen, Germany.|Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
David G
DG
Norris
Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Kokereiallee 7, 45141, Essen, Germany.|Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (dkfz), Heidelberg, Germany.
Mark E
ME
Ladd
Department of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.|Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany.|German Center for Neurodegenerative Disease (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany.|Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany.
Oliver
O
Speck
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio
Magnetic resonance imaging; Multi-center; Neuroimaging; Ultrahigh field