eTable 1. List of studies and key characteristics (a full database of all extracted data from included studies is available at http://www.bric.ed.ac.uk)

eFigure 1. Sample size in studies that definitely scanned the same subjects at 1.5 and 3T

eFigure 2. Number of studies providing data for different key sequences at the two field strengths

eAppendix 1. Search strategies

28

eTable 1. List of studies and key characteristics (a full database of all extracted data from included studies is available at http://www.bric.ed.ac.uk)

Authors / Year / Number of subjects / Same subjects scanned? / Data prospective? / Readers blinded? / Time between scans / Disease / Scan type /
Abdul-Kareem[1] / 2009 / 10 / Y / Y / Y / < 6 months / not relevant / sMRI
Acar[2] / 2007 / 20 / Y / Y / NR / U / not relevant / sMRI
Agati[3] / 2004 / 6 / Y / Y / U / U / tumour / sMRI
Al-Kwifi[4] / 2002 / 15 / Y / Y / Y / U / not relevant / MRA
Allkemper[5] / 2004 / 20 / Y / Y / Y / U / not relevant / T2-FSE
Allkemper[6] / 2004 / 16 / Y / Y / Y / < 1 day / bleeds / sMRI
Anzalone[7] / 2008 / 28 / Y / U / U / < 1 day / aneurysm/AVM/vascular / MRA
Arnold[8] / 2001 / 4 / N / Y / U / NR / not relevant / sMRI
Bachmann[9] / 2006 / 22 / Y / Y / N / < 1 week / MS (inflammatory conditions) / FLAIR deft slice thickness/resolution
Bammer[10] / 2007 / 14 / Y / Y / U / < 1 day / not relevant / MRA
Barker[11] / 2001 / 5 / Y / Y / U / U / not relevant / 1H MRS single
Barth[12] / 2003 / 18 / Y / Y / U / < 1 week / not relevant / sMRI, CE-MRV
Bartlett[13] / 2007 / 35 / Y / N / N / > 1 year / epileptic foci / sMRI
Ba-Ssalamah[14] / 2003 / 22 / Y / Y / Y / U / tumour / sMRI
Benedetti[15] / 2007 / 101 / N / Y / U / U / not relevant / Special MRS- non localised whole brain NAA MRS
Beppu[16] / 2007 / 10 / Y / Y / N / U / tumour / sMRI
Bernstein[17] / 2001 / 12 / Y / U / U / U / aneurysm/AVM/vascular / MRA
Boss[18] / 2007 / 13 / N / Y / U / NR / not relevant / PWI
Brander[19] / 2010 / 40 / N / Y / U / NR / not relevant / sMRI, dMRI
Briellmann[20] / 2001 / 8 / Y / Y / N / < 6 months / not relevant / sMRI
Buhk[21] / 2008 / 18 / Y / Y / N / U / aneurysm/AVM/vascular / MRA
Chakravarty[22] / 2009 / 18 / N / Y / N / NR / not relevant / fMRI
Chang[23] / 2007 / 10 / Y / Y / U / U / not relevant / sMRI
Chen[24] / 2003 / 7 / N / Y / U / NR / not relevant / fMRI
Chen[25] / 2003 / 5 / Y / Y / U / U / not relevant / fMRI
Davila[26] / 2010 / 43 / Y / Y / U / > 1 year / developmental / sMRI
Deichmann[27] / 2004 / Unclear / U / Y / U / U / not relevant / 3D modified driven equilibrium Fourier transform
Di Perri[28] / 2009 / 79 / Y / Y / Y / < 1 month / MS (inflammatory conditions) / sMRI
Dickerson[29] / 2008 / 16 / Y / Y / NR / < 1 month / not relevant / sMRI
Ethofer[30] / 2003 / 8 / Y / Y / NR / NR / not relevant / sMRI, 1H MRS single
Ethofer[31] / 2004 / 5 / Y / U / U / U / developmental / 1H MRS single
Everton[32] / 2008 / 81 / U / Y / NR / NR / not relevant / sMRI
Fera[33] / 2004 / 9 / Y / Y / NR / < 1 month / not relevant / fMRI
Fischbach[34] / 2008 / 12 / Y / Y / N / U / not relevant / sMRI
Friedman[35] / 2006 / 5 / Y / Y / U / < 1 week / not relevant / fMRI
Friedman[36] / 2006 / 5 / Y / Y / U / < 1 week / not relevant / fMRI
Friedman[37] / 2008 / 5 / Y / Y / N / < 1 week / not relevant / fMRI
Fushimi[38] / 2006 / 24 / Y / Y / Y / < 1 month / aneurysm/AVM/vascular / MR angio TDF
Fushimi[39] / 2007 / 30 / Y / Y / U / < 1 day / not relevant / dMRI
Fushimi[40] / 2007 / 10 / Y / Y / U / < 1 day / not relevant / sMRI
Gaa[41] / 2004 / 12 / Y / Y / U / U / aneurysm/AVM/vascular / MRA
Gibbs[42] / 2004 / 50 / Y / N / U / > 1 year / aneurysm/AVM/vascular / MRA
Gonen[43] / 2001 / 4 / Y / Y / NR / < 1 month / not relevant / 1H MRS CSI
Guilfoyle[44] / 2001 / 6 / U / Y / NR / NR / not relevant / sMRI
Haacke[45] / 2009 / 27 / N / Y / U / NR / MS (inflammatory conditions) / T1-pre, T2, FLAIR, T1 post, SWI
Hamand[46]i / 2008 / 4 / Y / N / N / > 1 year / epileptic foci / fMRI, ASL
Han[47] / 2006 / 20 / Y / Y / U / < 1 month / not relevant / MPRAGE
Heidenreich[48] / 2007 / 15 / Y / Y / Y / U / aneurysm/AVM/vascular / MRA
Ho[49] / 2010 / 110 / Y / Y / NR / U / not relevant / sMRI
Hoenig[50] / 2005 / 10 / Y / Y / NR / NR / not relevant / fMRI
Hu[51] / 2008 / 10 / Y / Y / Y / < 6 months / not relevant / MRA
Huang[52] / 2010 / 18 / Y / Y / N / < 1 month / MS (inflammatory conditions) / sMRI
Huisman[53] / 2006 / 12 / Y / Y / U / < 1 day / not relevant / dMRI
Hunsche[54] / 2001 / 7 / Y / Y / N / U / not relevant / dMRI
Inglese[55] / 2006 / 6 / Y / Y / U / < 1 day / not relevant / 1H MRS CSI
Inoue[56] / 2005 / 1 / Y / Y / NR / U / tumour / 1H MRS single
Jovicich[57] / 2009 / 15 / Y / Y / NR / < 6 months / not relevant / sMRI
Kamada[58] / 2008 / 101 / Y / N / Y / > 1 year / not relevant / sMRI
Kantarci[59] / 2003 / 81 / Y / Y / NR / < 1 week / not relevant / 1H MRS single
Kaufmann[60] / 2010 / 58 / Y / Y / N / < 1 day / aneurysm/AVM/vascular / MRA
Keihaninejad[61] / 2010 / 35 / Y / Y / NR / < 1 month / not relevant / sMRI
Kickhefel[62] / 2010 / 9 / N / Y / NR / NR / not relevant / sMRI
Kikuta[63] / 2011 / 97 / Y / N / U / U / bleeds / sMRI
Kim[64] / 2006 / 13 / Y / Y / U / < 1 month / tumour / 1H MRS single
Kim[65] / 2007 / 5 / Y / Y / U / U / tumour / Inversion prepared 3D spoiled gradient-recalled (MPRAGE)
Knake[66] / 2005 / 40 / Y / N / N / U / epileptic foci / sMRI
Kolind[67] / 2009 / Unclear / Y / Y / NR / U / not relevant / T2 relaxation measurements using 32 echo sequence
Kosior[68] / 2007 / 3 / Y / Y / U / < 1 day / infarcts / dMRI, PWI
Krasnow[69] / 2003 / 14 / Y / Y / NR / < 1 month / not relevant / fMRI
Krautmacher[70] / 2005 / 12 / Y / Y / Y / < 1 week / tumour / sMRI
Kruger[71] / 2001 / 28 / Y / Y / NR / U / not relevant / fMRI
Kruggel[72] / 2010 / 172 / Y / N / U / U / not relevant / sMRI
Kuhl[73] / 2005 / 26 / Y / Y / Y / < 1 day / infarcts / dMRI
Lange[74] / 2006 / 4 / Y / Y / U / < 1 day / not relevant / 1H MRS single, 1H MRS CSI
Lee[75] / 2009 / 41 / N / N / U / NR / infarcts / dMRI
Lee[76] / 2005 / 10 / Y / U / N / < 1 day / not relevant / sMRI
Li[77] / 2006 / 18 / N / Y / NR / NR / not relevant / PRESS H-1 MRS
Li[78] / 2009 / 8 / Y / Y / NR / NR / not relevant / Primary = T2* mapping
Lu[79] / 2005 / 5 / Y / Y / NR / < 1 week / not relevant / fMRI
Lu[80] / 2005 / 10 / Y / Y / Y / < 1 week / not relevant / sMRI
Lu[81] / 2005 / 13 / N / Y / NR / NR / MS (inflammatory conditions) / VASO
Lupo[82] / 2006 / 80 / N / U / NR / NR / MS (inflammatory conditions) / PWI
MacFadden[83] / 2011 / 39 / Y / Y / U / U / tumour / sMRI
Machata[84] / 2009 / 76 / N / Y / NR / NR / not relevant / Specific sequences used at each field strength were not given. There was no direct comparison of images. Subjects received the clinically indicated protocols for a range of clinical conditions. Tympanic and rectal temperatures were measured before and aft
Madler[85] / 2008 / 22 / N / Y / NR / NR / not relevant / dMRI, Multicomponent T2 relaxation
Magnotta[86] / 2006 / 6 / Y / Y / NR / < 1 week / not relevant / sMRI
Mechanic-Hamilton[87] / 2009 / 49 / N / Y / N / NR / epileptic foci / sMRI, fMRI
Meindl[88] / 2008 / 6 / Y / Y / NR / U / not relevant / fMRI
Nakai[89] / 2001 / 36 / Y / Y / NR / NR / not relevant / fMRI
Nandigam[90] / 2009 / 14 / U / Y / Y / U / bleeds / sMRI, Susceptibility weighted imaging
Neema[91] / 2009 / 15 / Y / Y / U / NR / not relevant / sMRI
Neuwelt[92] / 2007 / 12 / N / Y / N / NR / not relevant / sMRI, MRA
Nielsen[93] / 2006 / 28 / Y / Y / Y / < 1 day / MS (inflammatory conditions) / sMRI
Nobauer-Huhmann[94] / 2002 / 16 / Y / Y / Y / U / tumour / sMRI
Noebauer-Huhmann[95] / 2006 / 6 / Y / Y / U / U / not relevant / SWI
Noth[96] / 2006 / 8 / Y / Y / U / U / not relevant / PWI
Oh[97] / 2006 / 9 / Y / Y / U / U / not relevant / Multi -slice multi echo T2 prep spiral sequences
Okada[98] / 2005 / 8 / Y / Y / NR / < 1 day / not relevant / fMRI
Okada[99] / 2006 / 30 / Y / Y / Y / < 1 day / not relevant / dMRI
Orbach[100] / 2006 / 34 / Y / Y / Y / U / not relevant / sMRI
Oros-Peusquens[101] / 2008 / 12 / Y / Y / U / < 6 months / not relevant / NMR, T1: - TAPIR, a sequence based on the Look–Locker method;
- a 3D,T1-weighted sequence (MP-RAGE)
T2: - A multi-slice, multi-echo T2 mapping sequence based on the Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill (CPMG) method
T*2: - a multi-slice, multi-echo, gradient ech
Osorio[102] / 2007 / 41 / U / N / N / NR / tumour / 1H MRS single, MRS , 3D 1H MRSI using point-resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) volume selection:
- pre- and postcontrast axial T1-weighted volume 3D spoiled gradient-echo (SPGR) images;
- T2-weighted axial fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images
Pagani[103] / 2010 / 80 / Y / Y / U / U / MS (inflammatory conditions) / sMRI
Park[104] / 2008 / 11 / Y / Y / NR / < 1 week / not relevant / sMRI
Pfefferbaum[105] / 2010 / 20 / Y / N / U / > 1 year / not relevant / sMRI, dMRI, Field map
Phal[106] / 2008 / 25 / Y / N / N / > 1 year / epileptic foci / sMRI
Pinker[107] / 2007 / 17 / Y / Y / N / U / aneurysm/AVM/vascular / sMRI
Preston[108] / 2004 / 8 / Y / Y / NR / < 1 day / not relevant / fMRI
Rabe[109] / 2006 / 19 / Y / Y / NR / U / not relevant / fMRI
Ramgren[110] / 2008 / 37 / Y / Y / U / < 1 day / aneurysm/AVM/vascular / MRA
Rosso[111] / 2010 / 189 / N / N / Y / NR / infarcts / dMRI
Runge[112] / 2006 / 16 / Y / Y / Y / < 1 day / not relevant / dMRI
Sasaki[113] / 2008 / 12 / Y / Y / Y / < 1 month / not relevant / dMRI
Sawaishi[114] / 2005 / 1 / Y / N / U / < 6 months / epileptic foci / sMRI
Schaafsma[115] / 2010 / 311 / N / Y / N / NR / aneurysm/AVM/vascular / MRA
Scheid[116] / 2007 / 14 / Y / N / U / < 1 day / bleeds / dMRI
Scorzin[117] / 2008 / 10 / Y / Y / N / < 1 month / epileptic foci / sMRI, 3d T1 turbo field echo
Sicotte[118] / 2003 / 25 / Y / Y / N / < 1 week / MS (inflammatory conditions) / dMRI
Simon[119] / 2010 / 41 / Y / Y / Y / < 1 day / MS (inflammatory conditions) / sMRI
Sjobakk[120] / 2006 / 19 / Y / Y / U / < 1 day / tumour / 1H MRS single
Sohn[121] / 2010 / 11 / Y / Y / Y / < 1 day / not relevant / sMRI
Spiegelmann[122] / 2006 / 17 / Y / Y / N / U / not relevant / dMRI
St Lawrence[123] / 2005 / 11 / N / Y / NR / U / not relevant / Multi-slice version of ASSIST arterial spin tagging, combined with BOLD
Stehling[124] / 2008 / 550 / N / Y / Y / U / bleeds / sMRI
Strandberg[125] / 2008 / 25 / Y / N / N / U / epileptic foci / sMRI
Stroman[126] / 2001 / 12 / N / Y / NR / NR / not relevant / fMRI
Sullivan[127] / 2009 / Unclear / Y / N / N / > 1 year / not relevant / sMRI
Tardif[128] / 2010 / 8 / Y / Y / U / not relevant / FLASH, MP-RAGE
Tieleman[129] / 2007 / 6 / Y / Y / NR / < 1 month / not relevant / fMRI
Traber[130] / 2004 / 62 / N / N / NR / NR / not relevant / 1H MRS single
Triantafyllou[131] / 2005 / 8 / Y / Y / NR / U / not relevant / fMRI
van der Zwaag[132] / 2009 / 6 / Y / Y / N / U / not relevant / fMRI, MPRAGE
Watanabe[133] / 2010 / 15 / Y / Y / N / < 1 day / atrophy / sMRI
Wattjes[134] / 2008 / 40 / Y / Y / U / < 1 week / MS (inflammatory conditions) / sMRI
Wattjes[135] / 2006 / 60 / Y / Y / Y / < 1 week / MS (inflammatory conditions) / sMRI
Wattjes[136] / 2006 / 40 / Y / Y / U / < 1 week / MS (inflammatory conditions) / sMRI
Weigel[137] / 2006 / 33 / U / Y / N / NR / not relevant / sMRI
Weiskopf[138] / 2006 / 5 / Y / Y / NR / U / not relevant / fMRI
Willinek[139] / 2003 / 15 / Y / Y / Y / < 1 day / aneurysm/AVM/vascular / MR angiography
Winter[140] / 2009 / 5 / Y / Y / N / NR / not relevant / sMRI, fMRI, Spiral imaging, SENSE-EPI
Wolfsberger[141] / 2004 / 21 / Y / Y / U / U / tumour / sMRI
Wright[142] / 2008 / 4 / Y / Y / N / U / not relevant / sMRI
Yao[143] / 2009 / 9 / Y / Y / U / U / not relevant / sMRI
Yendiki[144] / 2010 / 10 / Y / Y / N / NR / not relevant / fMRI
Yongbi[145] / 2002 / 6 / Y / Y / U / U / not relevant / fMRI, PWI
Zhang[146] / 2007 / 34 / Y / Y / N / < 1 week / MS (inflammatory conditions) / sMRI
Zijlmans[147] / 2009 / 37 / Y / N / Y / > 1 year / epileptic foci / sMRI, dMRI, Saggital T1-weighted spin echo; saggital T1-weighted high resolution isovolumetric scan; axial dual echo T2-weighted turbo spin echo
Zou[148] / 2005 / 5 / Y / Y / U / NR / not relevant / fMRI
Zou[149] / 2008 / 126 / N / Y / U / NR / aneurysm/AVM/vascular / MRA
Zwanenburg[150] / 2010 / 5 / Y / Y / U / NR / not relevant / sMRI

28

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