Multi‑institutional recommendations on the use of 7T MRI in deep brain stimulation

Middlebrooks EH et al. Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville; Amsterdam UMC; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Western University, London (ON)

Published in the Journal of Neurosurgery 1)


Consensus/Technique article presenting multi-institutional expert consensus on the clinical application and technical optimization of 7‑Tesla MRI in deep brain stimulation (DBS) planning.

7T MRI enables superior visualization of DBS targets—subthalamic nucleusglobus pallidus internus (GPi), and thalamus—due to increased spatial resolution, enhanced contrast, and higher signal-to-noise ratio.

The paper outlines:

  • Standardized imaging sequences
  • Distortion correction methods
  • Artifact mitigation strategies
  • Post‑processing workflows

All recommendations are grounded in experience across >1000 DBS cases.


➕ Strengths

  • Extensive real‑world experience from multiple high‑volume centers (>1 000 cases)
  • Provides reproducible and practical imaging protocols
  • Addresses technical pitfalls specific to ultrahigh‑field MRI (e.g., geometric distortion, susceptibility artifacts)
  • Multi‑institutional consensus improves external validity

➖ Weaknesses

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