TY  - JOUR
A1  - Vos, E. K.
A1  - Lagemaat, M. W.
A1  - Barentsz, J. O.
A1  - Fütterer, J. J.
A1  - Zamecnik, P.
A1  - Roozen, H.
A1  - Orzada, S.
A1  - Bitz, Andreas
A1  - Maas, M. C.
A1  - Scheenen, T. W. J.
T1  - Image quality and cancer visibility of T2-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the prostate at 7 Tesla
JF  - European Radiology
N2  - Objectives
To assess the image quality of T2-weighted (T2w) magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate and the visibility of prostate cancer at 7 Tesla (T).

Materials & methods
Seventeen prostate cancer patients underwent T2w imaging at 7T with only an external transmit/receive array coil. Three radiologists independently scored images for image quality, visibility of anatomical structures, and presence of artefacts. Krippendorff’s alpha and weighted kappa statistics were used to assess inter-observer agreement. Visibility of prostate cancer lesions was assessed by directly linking the T2w images to the confirmed location of prostate cancer on histopathology.

Results
T2w imaging at 7T was achievable with ‘satisfactory’ (3/5) to ‘good’ (4/5) quality. Visibility of anatomical structures was predominantly scored as ‘satisfactory’ (3/5) and ‘good’ (4/5). If artefacts were present, they were mostly motion artefacts and, to a lesser extent, aliasing artefacts and noise. Krippendorff’s analysis revealed an α = 0.44 between three readers for the overall image quality scores. Clinically significant cancer lesions in both peripheral zone and transition zone were visible at 7T.

Conclusion
T2w imaging with satisfactory to good quality can be routinely acquired, and cancer lesions were visible in patients with prostate cancer at 7T using only an external transmit/receive body array coil.
Y1  - 2014
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-014-3234-6
SN  - 1432-1084
VL  - 24
IS  - 8
SP  - 1950
EP  - 1958
PB  - Springer
CY  - Cham
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Maas, Marnix C.
A1  - Vos, Eline K.
A1  - Lagemaat, Miriam W.
A1  - Bitz, Andreas
A1  - Orzada, Stephan
A1  - Kobus, Thiele
A1  - Kraff, Oliver
A1  - Maderwald, Stefan
A1  - Ladd, Mark E.
A1  - Scheenen, Tom W. J.
T1  - Feasibility of T₂-weighted turbo spin echo imaging of the human prostate at 7 tesla
JF  - Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
N2  - Purpose
To demonstrate that high quality T₂-weighted (T2w) turbo spin-echo (TSE) imaging of the complete prostate can be achieved routinely and within safety limits at 7 T, using an external transceive body array coil only.

Methods
Nine healthy volunteers and 12 prostate cancer patients were scanned on a 7 T whole-body system. Preparation consisted of B₀ and radiofrequency shimming and localized flip angle calibration. T₁ and T₂ relaxation times were measured and used to define the T2w-TSE protocol. T2w imaging was performed using a TSE sequence (pulse repetition time/echo time 3000–3640/71 ms) with prolonged excitation and refocusing pulses to reduce specific absorption rate.

Results
High quality T2w TSE imaging was performed in less than 2 min in all subjects. Tumors of patients with gold-standard tumor localization (MR-guided biopsy or prostatectomy) were well visualized on 7 T imaging (n = 3). The number of consecutive slices achievable within a 10-g averaged specific absorption rate limit of 10 W/kg was ≥28 in all subjects, sufficient for full prostate coverage with 3-mm slices in at least one direction.

Conclusion
High quality T2w TSE prostate imaging can be performed routinely and within specific absorption rate limits at 7 T with an external transceive body array.
Y1  - 2014
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1002/mrm.24818
SN  - 1522-2594
VL  - 71
IS  - 5
SP  - 1711
EP  - 1719
PB  - Wiley-VCH
CY  - Weinheim
ER  -