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Review
. 2021 Nov 1;56(11):726-733.
doi: 10.1097/RLI.0000000000000805.

Low-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A New Generation of Breakthrough Technology in Clinical Imaging

Rafael Heiss  1 , Armin M Nagel, Frederik B Laun  1 , Michael Uder  1 , Sebastian Bickelhaupt
Affiliations
Review

Low-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A New Generation of Breakthrough Technology in Clinical Imaging

Rafael Heiss et al. Invest Radiol. .

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a pivotal role in diagnostic imaging. In today's clinical environment, scanners with field strengths of 1.5 to 3 T are most commonly used. However, recent technological advancements might help to augment the clinical usage and availability of MRI via the introduction of high-performance low-field MRI systems (ranging from ~0.1-0.55 T in current systems). The combination of low field strength and high-performance hardware is characterized by increased flexibility, excellent quality of results, and reduced cost. This review discusses the multifaceted potential advantages of a new generation of high-performance low-field MRI systems and presents the potential impact of such systems in terms of socioeconomic benefits as well as positive effects on patient care.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest and sources of funding: none declared.

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