%A Chen Zhiye, Liu Mengqi, Ma Lin %T Surface-Based Morphometry of Human Brain: Intra-Individual Comparison Between 3T and 7T High Resolution Structural MR Imaging %0 Journal Article %D 2017 %J Chinese Medical Sciences Journal %R 10.24920/J1001-9294.2017.031 %P 226-231 %V 32 %N 4 %U {http://cmsj.cams.cn/CN/abstract/article_382.shtml} %8 2017-12-30 %X Objective

High resolution structural MR imaging can reveal structural characteristics of cerebral cortex and provide an insight into normal brain development and neuropsychological diseases. The aim of this study was to compare cortical structural characteristics of normal human brain between 3T and 7T MRI systems using surface-based morphometry based on high resolution structural MR imaging.

Methods

Twelve healthy volunteers were scanned by both 3T with 3D T1-weighted fast spoiled gradient recalled echo (3D T1-FSPGR) sequence and 7T with 3D T1-weighted magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo (3D T1-MPRAGE) sequence. MRI data were processed with FreeSurfer. The cortical thickness, white and gray matter surface area, convexity, and curvature from data of 3T and 7T were measured and compared by paired t-test.

Results

Measurements of mean cortical thickness, total white matter surface area and gray matter surface area of 3T were larger than those of 7T (left hemisphere: P=0.000, 0.006, 0.020 respectively; right hemisphere: P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000 respectively). Surface-based morphometry over the whole brain demonstrated both reduced and increased measurements of cortical thickness, white and gray surface area, convexity, and curvature at 7T compared to 3T.

Conclusions

Inconsistency of brain structural attribute between 3T and 7T was confirmed, and researchers should be cautious about data when using ultrahigh field MR system to investigate brain structural changes.