Is there a relevant gain in the depiction of the delicate structures of the brainstem by MR imaging at 3.0-T compared to 1.5-T?

Purpose: Our aim was to evaluate the depiction of fine anatomic detail of the brainstem region, e.g., brain nerves and adjacent vessels, by high-resolution MRI and define the advantage of imaging at 3.0-T vs. 1.5-T. Method and materials: In total, 31 special brainstem structures were selected for comparison and identified on MR images of 12 volunteers at 1.5T and 3.0T, respectively. Each volunteer underwent 8 MR scans differing in field strength, coil selection, and pulse sequence parameters. At 1.5-T (GE Twin Speed) both a quadrature and an 8-Channel-Phased-Array coil were employed, while at 3.0-T (GE Signa) on…