Journal Article

DZNE-2025-01347

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Portable ultra-low-field MRI in acute stroke care: A pilot study.

von Danwitz, N. M. (First author)DZNE* ; Lehnen, N. C. ; Meißner, J. N. ; Samani, O. S.DZNE* ; Asperger, H.DZNE* ; Thielscher, C.DZNE* ; Ebrahimi, T.DZNE* ; Layer, J.DZNE* ; Nitsch, L. ; Dorn, F. ; Radbruch, A.DZNE* ; Bode, F. J.Extern* ; Weller, J. M. ; Groteklaes, A. ; Petzold, G. C.DZNE* ; Sabir, H.DZNE* ; Stösser, S.

2025
Sage Publishing London

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1177/23969873251344761

Abstract: Neuroimaging is a prerequisite for treatment of stroke patients, but it is not available all over the globe. Portable ultra-low field (pULF) MRI has the potential to improve access to neuroimaging and thus stroke care worldwide. In a pilot study, we were the first to utilise pULF-MRI in a European tertiary stroke centre and to evaluate its diagnostic value compared to high-field (HF) MRI.Consecutive patients admitted for suspected ischaemic stroke underwent pULF-MRI using the 0.064 Tesla Swoop® portable MR imaging system in addition to standard imaging. HF-MRI and pULF-MRI scans were blindly assessed to compare the diagnostic accuracy and imaging-based therapeutic decisions based on pULF-MRI to HF-MRI.Seventeen patients underwent pULF-MRI, 12 of whom had ischaemic lesions on HF-MRI. Ischaemic lesions were detected on pULF-MRI in 8/12 cases. The four infarcts not identified on pULF-MRI were all smaller than 6 mm in diameter. In all cases, a virtual treatment decision based on pULF-MRI by a blinded team matched the actual clinical decisions.This single-centre study demonstrates that pULF-MRI is a promising tool in acute stroke care, providing reliable imaging for treatment decision and follow-up monitoring. pULF-MRI may support acute stroke care if HF-MRI is unavailable and may be particularly helpful in resource-limited settings. Limitations of pULF-MRI include long acquisition times and the lack of vessel imaging and haemorrhage-sensitive sequences.

Keyword(s): Humans (MeSH) ; Pilot Projects (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; Female (MeSH) ; Aged (MeSH) ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging: methods (MeSH) ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging: instrumentation (MeSH) ; Middle Aged (MeSH) ; Aged, 80 and over (MeSH) ; Stroke: diagnostic imaging (MeSH) ; Ischemic Stroke: diagnostic imaging (MeSH) ; Neuroimaging: methods (MeSH) ; Neuroimaging: instrumentation (MeSH) ; Stroke ; acute care ; emergency department ; health equality ; point of care imaging ; portable ultra-low-field MRI

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Clinical Research Platform (CRP) (Clinical Research Platform (CRP))
2. Vascular Neurology (AG Petzold)
3. Clinical Single Cell Omics (CSCO) / Systems Medicine (AG Schultze)
4. Patient Studies (Bonn) (Patient Studies (Bonn))
5. Clinical Neuroimaging (AG Radbruch)
6. Neonatal Neuroscience (AG Sabir)

Research Program(s):

1. 353 - Clinical and Health Care Research (POF4-353) (POF4-353)
2. 354 - Disease Prevention and Healthy Aging (POF4-354) (POF4-354)
3. 352 - Disease Mechanisms (POF4-352) (POF4-352)

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Database coverage:
; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Clinical Medicine ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 5 ; JCR ; National-Konsortium ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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