Repeatability and Reproducibility of Ultra High-Field Cervical Spinal Cord Quantitative MRI: A Dual-Center Study at 7T

Motivation: Conducting multi-center 7T quantitative MRI studies on the spinal cord requires acquisition protocols with high reliability. Goal(s): To provide a consensus cervical cord qMRI protocol with high reliability by means of determining its repeatability and reproducibility across a dual center test-retest study. Approach: Six healthy controls underwent a multiparametric protocol back-to-back 3 times with a break, which include T1-MP2RAGE and T2*-weighted on two 7T scanners. Results: T1 values and spinal cord area (on C1-C5 level) show high repeatability (CoV<2%; Cov <1.2% respectively and high reproducibility (Cov<2.6%; <9.9% respectively) within and between subjects. Impact: This work represents an important step towards the adoption of UHF MRI protocol for various neurological pathologies affecting the spinal cord. It empowers neurologists and scientists investigating neurodegenerative diseases with high reliability and robustness.