7-Tesla MRI could be a game-changer for diagnosing, treating brain tumors
A 7-Tesla-strong MRI machine could be changing the way brain tumors are diagnosed and treated, University of Southern California researchers reported this week.
Meng Law, MD, and colleagues used the 7T scanner to diagnose a Cushing’s disease patient for the first time in American history, according to a USC news story. They attempted the ultrahigh tech approach after a patient—and former USC medical student—presented to the hospital with a brain tumor that showed up as “MRI-negative” on her initial scan.
Law’s team was able to use the stronger MRI technique, which uses a more powerful magnet than typical MRI machines and produces clearer pictures, to image and localize the patient’s tumor.
“This is the first time a 7T has been used to scan a Cushing’s patient in the U.S., and we’re very excited about the results,” Law said. “The new technology has the potential to replace the standard method of diagnosis, which is much more invasive.”
Arthur Toga, the director of USC’s Mark and Mary Steves Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, said the case is the “beginning of a new frontier for ultrahigh field MR technologies.”
“The enhanced image quality opens many doors for neuroscientists in both research and clinical settings,” he said.
Read the full story on USC’s website:
After graduating from Indiana University-Bloomington with a bachelor’s in journalism, Anicka joined TriMed’s Chicago team in 2017 covering cardiology. Close to her heart is long-form journalism, Pilot G-2 pens, dark chocolate and her dog Harper Lee.