Feasibility study: 7 T MRI in giant cell arteritis.

Objective: To assess the detectability of vasculitic changes of the superficial cranial arteries with contrast-enhanced 7 T MRI in three patients with GCA and intraindividual comparison with 3 T MRI.

Methods: Three patients (two female, one male) with suspected GCA underwent contrast-enhanced T1-weighted high-resolution MRI at 3 T and 7 T magnetic field strength. The clinical diagnosis, based on criteria of the American College of Rheumatology, was confirmed by biopsy of the superficial temporal artery after MRI. MR images were visually assessed for detection of vasculitic mural contrast enhancement and vessel wall thickening of the superficial cranial arteries.

Results: Both 3 T and 7 T MRI allows for visualisation of mural inflammatory changes and assessment of the vasculitic involvement pattern. Image quality of 7 T MRI was rated superior to image quality of 3 T MRI scans.

Conclusions: 7 T MR imaging of vasculitic changes in patients with GCA is possible, and suggests superior image quality. Larger patient studies are necessary to quantify the diagnostic advantages of 7 T MRI.