Feasibility of T2-weighted turbo spin echo imaging of the human prostate at 7 tesla

Purpose To demonstrate that high quality T2‐weighted (T2w) turbo spin‐echo (TSE) imaging of the complete prostate can be achieved routinely and within safety limits at 7 T, using an external transceive body array coil only. Methods Nine healthy volunteers and 12 prostate cancer patients were scanned on a 7 T whole‐body system. Preparation consisted of B0 and radiofrequency shimming and localized flip angle calibration. T1 and T2 relaxation times were measured and used to define the T2w‐TSE protocol. T2w imaging was performed using a TSE sequence (pulse repetition time/echo time 3000–3640/71 ms) with prolonged excitation and refocusing pulses to reduce specific absorption rate. Results High quality T2w TSE imaging was performed in less than 2 min in all subjects. Tumors of patients with gold‐standard tumor localization (MR‐guided biopsy or prostatectomy) were well visualized on 7 T imaging (n = 3). The number of consecutive slices achievable within a 10‐g averaged specific absorption rate limit of 10 W/kg was ≥28 in all subjects, sufficient for full prostate coverage with 3‐mm slices in at least one direction. Conclusion High quality T2w TSE prostate imaging can be performed routinely and within specific absorption rate limits at 7 T with an external transceive body array. Magn Reson Med 71:1711–1719, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.