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Revolutionizing pediatric neuroimaging: the era of CT, MRI, and beyond

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A Correction to this article was published on 22 August 2023

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Abstract

Purpose

To review the evolution of cross-sectional imaging in pediatric neuroradiology from early developments to current advancements and future directions.

Methods

Information was obtained through a PubMed literature search as well as referenced online resources and personal experience from radiologists currently practicing pediatric neuroimaging and those who experienced the era of nascent cross-sectional imaging.

Results

The advent of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the 1970s and 1980s brought about a revolutionary shift in the field of medical imaging, neurosurgical and neurological diagnosis. These cross-sectional imaging techniques ushered in a new era by enabling the visualization of soft tissue structures within the brain and spine. Advancements in these imaging modalities have continued at a remarkable pace, now providing not only high high-resolution and 3-dimensional anatomical imaging, but also functional assessment. With each stride forward, CT and MRI have provided clinicians with invaluable insights, improving the accuracy and precision of diagnoses, facilitating the identification of optimal surgical targets, and guiding the selection of appropriate treatment strategies.

Conclusion

This article traces the origins and early developments of CT and MRI, chronicling their journey from pioneering technologies to their current indispensable status in clinical applications and exciting possibilities that lie ahead in the realm of medical imaging and neurologic diagnosis.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to sincerely thank Dr. Eric J. Russell, Professor of Radiology at Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, for his personal tales of the early times of CT and MRI and his generous lending of the images used in Fig. 2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Imaging, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, 225 East Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL, USA

    Maura E. Ryan & Alok Jaju

  2. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 420 East Superior St, Chicago, IL, USA

    Maura E. Ryan & Alok Jaju

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Maura Ryan authored portions of the main manuscript (predominantly MRI), prepared Figures 2 and 3, edited manuscript, performed research and organization of the manuscript. Alok Jaju authored portions of main manuscript contributor (predominantly CT), prepared Figure 1, edited manuscript, performed research and organization of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Maura E. Ryan.

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The original online version of this article was revised: In this article the caption to Fig. 2: a) an “l” was omitted from the name of the physician contributing the image, b) “leptomeningeal metatstasis” should be “mycotic aneurysms”.

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Ryan, M.E., Jaju, A. Revolutionizing pediatric neuroimaging: the era of CT, MRI, and beyond. Childs Nerv Syst 39, 2583–2592 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-023-06041-9

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