title: Feasibility of imaging superficial palmar arch using micro-ultrasound, 7T and 3T magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate feasibility of vessel wall imaging of the superficial palmar arch using high frequency micro-ultrasound, 7T and 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Four subjects (ages 22-50 years) were scanned on a micro-ultrasound system with a 45-MHz transducer (Vevo 2100, VisualSonics). Subjects' hands were then imaged on a 3T clinical MR scanner (Siemens Biograph MMR) using an 8-channel special purpose phased array carotid coil. Lastly, subjects' hands were imaged on a 7T clinical MR scanner (Siemens Magnetom 7T Whole Body Scanner) using a custom built 8-channel transmit receive carotid coil. All three imaging modalities were subjectively analyzed for image quality and visualization of the vessel wall.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results of this very preliminary study indicated that vessel wall imaging of the superficial palmar arch was feasible with a whole body 7T and 3T MRI in comparison with micro-ultrasound. Subjective analysis of image quality (1-5 scale, 1: poorest, 5: best) from B mode, ultrasound, 3T SPACE MRI and 7T SPACE MRI indicated that the image quality obtained at 7T was superior to both 3T MRI and micro-ultrasound. The 3D SPACE sequence at both 7T and 3T MRI with isotropic voxels allowed for multi-planar reformatting of images and allowed for less operator dependent results as compared to high frequency micro-ultrasound imaging. Although quantitative analysis revealed that there was no significant difference between the three methods, the 7T Tesla trended to have better visibility of the vessel and its wall.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Imaging of smaller arteries at the 7T is feasible for evaluating atherosclerosis burden and may be of clinical relevance in multiple diseases.
authors.affiliation: Alison N Pruzan, Audrey E Kaufman, Claudia Calcagno, Yu Zhou, Zahi A Fayad, Venkatesh Mani, Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute, Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States.
authors.forename: Alison N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Pruzan
authors.affiliation: Alison N Pruzan, Audrey E Kaufman, Claudia Calcagno, Yu Zhou, Zahi A Fayad, Venkatesh Mani, Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute, Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States.
authors.forename: Audrey E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.affiliation: Alison N Pruzan, Audrey E Kaufman, Claudia Calcagno, Yu Zhou, Zahi A Fayad, Venkatesh Mani, Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute, Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calcagno
authors.affiliation: Alison N Pruzan, Audrey E Kaufman, Claudia Calcagno, Yu Zhou, Zahi A Fayad, Venkatesh Mani, Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute, Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Alison N Pruzan, Audrey E Kaufman, Claudia Calcagno, Yu Zhou, Zahi A Fayad, Venkatesh Mani, Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute, Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States.
authors.forename: Zahi A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Fayad
authors.affiliation: Alison N Pruzan, Audrey E Kaufman, Claudia Calcagno, Yu Zhou, Zahi A Fayad, Venkatesh Mani, Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute, Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States.
authors.forename: Venkatesh
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mani
keywords: 7T and 3T magnetic resonance imaging; Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular disease; Micro-ultrasound; Superficial Palmar Arch