Bridging the gap: improving correspondence between low-field and high-field magnetic resonance images in young people.

Background

Portable low-field-strength magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems represent a promising alternative to traditional high-field-strength systems with the potential to make MR technology available at scale in low-resource settings. However, lower image quality and resolution may limit the research and clinical potential of these devices. We tested two super-resolution methods to enhance image quality in a low-field MR system and compared their correspondence with images acquired from a high-field system in a sample of young people.

Methods

T1- and T2-weighted structural MR images were obtained from a low-field (64mT) Hyperfine and high-field (3T) Siemens system in

Results

Single pairs of T1- and T2-weighted images acquired at low field showed high correspondence to high-field-strength images for estimates of total intracranial volume, surface area cortical volume, subcortical volume, and total brain volume (

Conclusion

Applying super-resolution approaches to low-field imaging improves regional brain volume and surface area accuracy in young people. Finer-scale brain measurements, such as cortical thickness, remain challenging with the limited resolution of low-field systems.

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2024 Cooper, Hayes, Corcoran, Sheth, Arnold, Stein, Glahn and Jalbrzikowski.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

TA is an employee of Subtle Medical. JS has received support through sponsored-research agreements with Hyperfine Research, Inc. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.