Low-field MRI systems improve accessibility, but what kind of diagnostic quality do they offer?

0.55T MRI lumbar compared to 1.5T sequence #lumbarMRI #1.5T

Coronal fluid-sensitive T2 DIXON (water-only) sequence of the lumbar spine at 1.5T (a) and STIR sequence at 0.55T. Modic type 1 changes at the L4, L5 and S1 endplates are clearly visible at both field strengths. Image and caption courtesy of Academic Radiology.

Experts recently compared the use of a 0.55T low-field MRI system to a 1.5T system to determine whether the results rendered were within an acceptable diagnostic range.