Advances in high-field magnetic resonance imaging

Among advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the increase of the magnetic field strength is perhaps one of the most significant. The use of high magnetic fields for in vivo magnetic resonance is motivated by a number of considerations. Advantages are increases in signal-to-noise ratio, blood-oxygenation level-dependent contrast, and spectral resolution, while disadvantages include potential reduction of contrast in anatomic imaging owing to lengthening of T₁ and effects of susceptibility of high fields. To address these challenges, technical advances have been made in various aspects of MRI, allowing high-field MRI to provide exquisite morphological and functional details in clinical and research settings. This review provides an overview of technical issues and applications of high-field MRI.