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Optimized T1- and T2-weighted volumetric brain imaging as a diagnostic tool in very preterm neonates

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Abstract

Background

T1- and T2-W MR sequences used for obtaining diagnostic information and morphometric measurements in the neonatal brain are frequently acquired using different imaging protocols. Optimizing one protocol for obtaining both kinds of information is valuable.

Objective

To determine whether high-resolution T1- and T2-W volumetric sequences optimized for preterm brain imaging could provide both diagnostic and morphometric value.

Materials and methods

Thirty preterm neonates born between 24 and 32 weeks’ gestational age were scanned during the first 2 weeks after birth. T1- and T2-W high-resolution sequences were optimized in terms of signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio and scan time and compared to conventional spin-echo-based sequences.

Results

No differences were found between conventional and high-resolution T1-W sequences for diagnostic confidence, image quality and motion artifacts. A preference for conventional over high-resolution T2-W sequences for image quality was observed. High-resolution T1 images provided better delineation of thalamic myelination and the superior temporal sulcus. No differences were found for detection of myelination and sulcation using conventional and high-resolution T2-W images.

Conclusion

High-resolution T1- and T2-W volumetric sequences can be used in clinical MRI in the very preterm brain to provide both diagnostic and morphometric information.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR MOP-84399). We would like to thank the time and effort spent by our neuroradiologist raters, Drs. M.M. Shroff, C. Raybaud, J.P. Soares-Fernandes and B. Thomas. We thank MRI technologists Garry Detzler and Ruth Weiss and NICU nurses Angela Thompson and Deborah Singleton, who helped with patient recruitment and were responsible for the well-being of the neonates during scanning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Neurosciences & Mental Health, Research Institute, 555 University Ave., Toronto, M5G 1X8, Canada

    Revital Nossin-Manor

  2. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada

    Andrew D. Chung, Drew Morris, João P. Soares-Fernandes, Bejoy Thomas & Manohar M. Shroff

  3. Neuroradiology Department, Hospital de S. Marcos, Braga, Portugal

    João P. Soares-Fernandes

  4. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Physiology Experimental Medicine, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada

    Hai-Ling M. Cheng

  5. Medical Biophysics Department, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Hai-Ling M. Cheng

  6. Neonatology Department, The Hospital for Sick Children, Neurosciences & Mental Health, Research Institute, Toronto, Canada

    Hilary E. A. Whyte

  7. Neurosciences & Mental Health, Research Institute, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada

    Margot J. Taylor

  8. Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Margot J. Taylor

  9. Physiology Experimental Medicine, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    John G. Sled

Authors
  1. Revital Nossin-Manor
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  2. Andrew D. Chung
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  3. Drew Morris
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  6. Hai-Ling M. Cheng
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  7. Hilary E. A. Whyte
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  10. Manohar M. Shroff
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Revital Nossin-Manor.

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Nossin-Manor, R., Chung, A.D., Morris, D. et al. Optimized T1- and T2-weighted volumetric brain imaging as a diagnostic tool in very preterm neonates. Pediatr Radiol 41, 702–710 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-010-1955-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-010-1955-5

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