The capability of small animal scanning using a clinically ultra-highfield whole body scanner at 3 Tesla

Purpose: MRI animal scanning has become an essential tool for experimental studies in molecular imaging. While ultra-high-field small-bore animal scanners with powerful gradients have been in use for the last decade, the recent availability of high-field clinical scanners warrants investigating of how well they can do the job in conjunction with small dedicated rf coils. Methods: More than 200 animals (rats, mice) were examined for different experimental purposes with images of the head and abdomen taken. Three different small rf coils were employed including a 2-cm circularly polarized surface coil, a T/R volum…