Right Coronary MR Angiography at 7 T: A Direct Quantitative and Qualitative Comparison with 3 T in Young Healthy Volunteers

Purpose: To objectively compare quantitative parameters related to image quality attained at coronary magnetic resonance (MR) angiography of the right coronary artery (RCA) performed at 7 T and 3 T. Materials and Methods: Institutional review board approval was obtained, and volunteers provided signed informed consent. Ten healthy adult volunteers (mean age +/- standard deviation, 25 years +/- 4; seven men, three women) underwent navigator-gated three-dimensional MR angiography of the RCA at 7 T and 3 T. For 7 T, a custom-built quadrature radiofrequency transmit-receive surface coil was used. At 3 T, a commercial body radiofrequency transmit coil and a cardiac coil array for signal reception were used. Segmented k-space gradient-echo imaging with spectrally selective adiabatic fat suppression was performed, and imaging parameters were similar at both field strengths. Contrast-to-noise ratio between blood and epicardial fat; signal-to-noise ratio of the blood pool; RCA vessel sharpness, diameter, and length; and navigator efficiency were quantified at both field strengths and compared by using a Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The contrast-to-noise ratio between blood and epicardial fat was significantly improved at 7 T when compared with that at 3 T (87 +/- 34 versus 52 +/- 13; P = .01). Signal-to-noise ratio of the blood pool was increased at 7 T (109 6 47 versus 67 +/- 19; P = .02). Vessel sharpness obtained at 7 T was also higher (58% +/- 9 versus 50% +/- 5; P = .04). At the same time, RCA vessel diameter and length and navigator efficiency showed no significant field strength-dependent difference. Conclusion: In our quantitative and qualitative study comparing in vivo human imaging of the RCA at 7 T and 3 T in young healthy volunteers, parameters related to image quality attained at 7 T equal or surpass those from 3 T. (C) RSNA, 2010