Dr. Thomas Lauenstein, from Essen University Hospital, and colleagues included 14 healthy women in the study, using a custom-built eight-channel MRI radiofrequency body coil. The exam protocol included T1-weighted fat-saturated 2D fast low-angle shot (FLASH), T1-weighted fat-saturated 3D FLASH, and T2-weighted turbo spin echo.
Two radiologists assessed each exam's visualization of pelvic anatomy, vasculature, tissue contrast, and overall image quality, using a five-point scale (with a score of 1 equal to nondiagnostic visualization and a score of 5 meaning excellent visualization).
For the T1-weighted sequences, 2D FLASH imaging had higher scores for all assessed structures than 3D FLASH MRI, with overall image quality receiving the highest scores. T2-weighted turbo-spin echo imaging produced a moderate to high visualization of the anatomy of the uterus.
Seven-tesla MRI is a feasible way to visualize the female pelvis in finer detail, the team concluded.
