Quantitative MRI of the human brain at 7 tesla

Abstract

This thesis describes the implementation of quantitative MR methods in the human brain at 7 T. By highlighting the drawbacks and advantages of the increased field strength, the use of 7 T MRI for quantitative measurements in clinical research was demonstrated. Inhomogeneities in the transmitted RF field limit the feasibility of methods that rely on the application of homogeneous RF pulses. The increased SNR at this high field strength enables rapid acquisition of high quality imaging volumes suitable for quantitative modeling while at the same time decreasing the uncertainty in fitted parameters.