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3T MRI in pediatrics
Axial T2 images from serial 3T MRI brain studies of a premature infant.
The primary reason for increasing the magnetic field strength in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is to take advantage of the linear relationship between field strength and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). When increasing the signal that is obtained in MRI, there is improvement in either spatial or temporal resolution – or in both. In pediatric imaging, there are a number of unique challenges that can be overcome with the assistance of improved spatial and/or temporal resolution.
Anomaly of the bile duct shown with MRI.
Challenges in pediatric imaging
The challenges of high-field MRI remain relevant in the pediatric setting1. They involve the altered T1 contrast, artefacts, and safety issues, including specific absorption rate (SAR). These challenges also create opportunities with improvement in MR angiography, arterial spin labeling (for example, with syngo® ASL), functional MRI, susceptibility-weighted imaging (for example, with syngo SWI), and MR spectroscopy, all of which have distinctive applications in pediatrics. The four main challenges in imaging children are: (1) anatomical challenges, (2) developmental issues, (3) physiological challenges, and (4) behavioral challenges.
Coronal T2 STIR whole body MRI for metastatic neuroblastoma.
Report publication
In their review, Michael Ditchfield, MD, and his coworkers from The Royal Children’s Hospital in Parkville, Australia, address basic considerations for pediatric 3 Tesla (3T) MRI, list the frequent and potential future applications, and discuss the challenges and restrictions in an article published. The report was published in the Siemens MR magazine MAGNETOM Flash and can be accessed below.
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1 The safety of imaging fetuses / infants under two years of age has not been established.
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