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Lung and large airway imaging: magnetic resonance imaging versus computed tomography

  • Thoracic imaging
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Abstract

Disorders of the respiratory system are common in children and imaging plays an important role for initial diagnosis and follow-up evaluation. Radiographs are typically the first-line imaging test for respiratory symptoms in children and, when advanced imaging is required, CT has been the most frequently used imaging modality. However, because of increasing concern about potentially harmful effects of ionizing radiation on children, there has been a shift toward MRI in pediatric imaging. Although MRI of chest in children presents many technical challenges, recent advances in MRI technology are overcoming many of these issues, and MRI is now being used for evaluating the lung and large airway in children at centers with expertise in pediatric chest MRI. In this article we review the state of pediatric lung and large airway imaging, with an emphasis on cross-sectional modalities and the roles of MRI versus CT.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Radiology and Pediatrics, Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 111 East 210th St., Bronx, NY, 10467, USA

    Mark C. Liszewski

  2. Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC–Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Pierluigi Ciet

  3. Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Erasmus MC–Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Pierluigi Ciet

  4. Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy

    Pierluigi Ciet

  5. Department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Abbey J. Winant & Edward Y. Lee

Authors
  1. Mark C. Liszewski
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  2. Pierluigi Ciet
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  3. Abbey J. Winant
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  4. Edward Y. Lee
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mark C. Liszewski.

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Conflicts of interest

Mark C. Liszewski is the recipient of grant funding for an unrelated study from Carestream Health Inc., is an unpaid member of the Carestream Health Medical Advisory Board and is the recipient of meal and travel support from Carestream Health. Pierluigi Ciet is the recipient of grant funding for an unrelated study from NWO (Netherlands) and unrelated consulting fees from Editamed Srl (Italy). The other authors report no conflicts.

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Liszewski, M.C., Ciet, P., Winant, A.J. et al. Lung and large airway imaging: magnetic resonance imaging versus computed tomography. Pediatr Radiol 52, 1814–1825 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-022-05386-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-022-05386-8

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