Magnetic Resonance ImagingNCT04441554
7 Tesla MRI Evaluation of the Spine
An observational study of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Cervical Spine Disease, run by Reto Sutter, MD at 1 site in Switzerland.
Trial summary
High-resolution MRI (7 Tesla) of the spine is capable to differentiate osseous spurs from discus-material and better depict the compressed nerve in the neuroforamen compared to 3T MRI. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cervical Spine Disease
- What is being tested?
- 7 Tesla MRI
- How many people
- 600 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSwitzerland
- Study dates
- 4 Mar 2020to 30 Sep 2027
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Patients who have undergone a MRI of the spine for clinical indications will be enrolled through consecutive ongoing recruitment in daily clinical practice at Balgrist University Hospital Zurich.
Who may be able to join
- Informed consent as documented by signature (Appendix Informed Consent Form)
- >18 years old
- Patients presenting chronic back pain (> 2 months) without recent trauma, previous MRI (1,5 or 3T) for clinicals indications or asymptomatic individuals (for depicting normal microanatomy)
Who cannot join
- previous surgery
- tumor patients
- pregnancy or breast feeding
- any MRI contra-indications
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Switzerland1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Balgrist University Hospital
Zurich, Canton of Zurich, 8008
Christoph Germann, MD, +41443863322, christoph.germann@balgrist.ch
About this study
High-resolution MRI (7 Tesla) of the spine is capable to differentiate osseous spurs from discus-material and better depict the compressed nerve in the neuroforamen compared to 3T MRI.
Provide the surgeon with a detailed high-resolution anatomical image before surgery and potential no need for CT (if the bony anatomy is of crucial importance).
- Conditions
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cervical Spine Disease
- Being tested
- 7 Tesla MRI
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
7 Tesla MRIDiagnostic test
7 Tesla MRI of the spine
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
differentiation of compressed nerves in neuroforamen (7T vs 3T)
Measured: 2 years
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Jun 2020
- Study start4 Mar 2020
- Primary completion30 Sep 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Sep 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Magnetic Resonance ImagingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 600 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Reto Sutter, MD
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Reto Sutter, MD, Balgrist University Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04441554
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- R448
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 19 Jun 2020
- Last updated
- 15 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- 7 Tesla MRI Evaluation of the Spine
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04441554
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- R448
- Conditions
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cervical Spine Disease
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 600 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Reto Sutter, MDUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 4 Mar 2020 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Sep 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Sep 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 22 Jun 2020 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
High-resolution MRI (7 Tesla) of the spine is capable to differentiate osseous spurs from discus-material and better depict the compressed nerve in the neuroforamen compared to 3T MRI.
Provide the surgeon with a detailed high-resolution anatomical image before surgery and potential no need for CT (if the bony anatomy is of crucial importance).
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Patients who have undergone a MRI of the spine for clinical indications will be enrolled through consecutive ongoing recruitment in daily clinical practice at Balgrist University Hospital Zurich.
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Informed consent as documented by signature (Appendix Informed Consent Form)
- >18 years old
- Patients presenting chronic back pain (> 2 months) without recent trauma, previous MRI (1,5 or 3T) for clinicals indications or asymptomatic individuals (for depicting normal microanatomy)
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- previous surgery
- tumor patients
- pregnancy or breast feeding
- any MRI contra-indications
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Tesla MRI7 Tesla MRI of the spine | Diagnostic test | – |
Primary outcome
differentiation of compressed nerves in neuroforamen (7T vs 3T)
Time frame: 2 years
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 15 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Cervical Spine Disease, run by Reto Sutter, MD at 1 site in Switzerland.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Switzerland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Each site lists its own contact: choose the nearest one under Trial locations. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
differentiation of compressed nerves in neuroforamen (7T vs 3T) (time frame: 2 years). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Jul 2026.