Musculoskeletal MRI at 7 Tesla
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Validation of 7 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Musculoskeletal Applications
IRAS ID
184827
Contact name
Sion Glyn-Jones
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford / Clinical Trials and Research Governance
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
not applicable, not applicable
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Research Question: Can ultra-high field (7 Tesla) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) accurately diagnose and measure the severity of early osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a disease that effects nearly 1 in 8 adults and its costs account for at least 1-2.5% of the GDP of the United Kingdom. Treatment is typically limited to pain management until surgical replacement of a joint is justified.
Osteoarthritis cannot currently be detected before irreversible joint damage has occurred. If osteoarthritis could be detected before irreversible joint damage, lives may be improved earlier and without joint replacement. MRI has the potential to non-invasively detect the early stages of osteoarthritis.
The main magnetic field for MRI machines determines the strength and characteristics of the signal received from the body: higher field strengths lead to stronger signals. Stronger signals can be used to detect chemical processes in the body or improve the resolution of images. Signals at clinical MRI field strengths (3 Tesla and below) have not yet demonstrated sensitivity to changes in chemical process that occur in early osteoarthritis. However, ultra-high field (7 Tesla) MRI has demonstrated it is sensitive to changes in early osteoarthritis.
Currently, ultra-high field MRI is not in regular clinical use. The technology is maturing and successful studies showing clinical utility will lead to adoption for clinical use.
This study will recruit subjects already scheduled for arthroscopy or for joint replacement. Prior to their procedure, subjects will be scanned with ultra-high field MRI. Biological samples that would otherwise be discarded will be collected during the procedure and analyzed for the changes ultra-high field MRI should detect. Results from ultra-high field MRI and sample analysis will be correlated to determine the usefulness of ultra-high field MRI for early osteoarthritis detection and grading of severity.
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SC/0460
Date of REC Opinion
10 Aug 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion