Value of gadolinium in brain MRI examinations for developmental delay

The aim of this study was to evaluate the added utility of gadolinium administration in the magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of developmental delay in children less than 2 years of age. A computerized retrospective study identified all brain magnetic resonance imaging examinations using gadolinium performed at our institution from 1995-2002 for children under the age of 2 years. Review of the clinical records and magnetic resonance imaging reports identified 170 brain magnetic resonance imaging examinations that were performed for developmental delay. Magnetic resonance imaging studies with enhancing lesions were reviewed by two staff neuroradiologists and two radiology residents. Contrast administration was rated as essential, helpful, or not helpful for each study. In the 107 patients in whom developmental delay was the primary concern, there were no cases in which the findings would have been missed without gadolinium administration. In the 63 patients in whom developmental delay was a secondary concern, there were several cases (11%) where contrast was helpful but not essential in reaching a radiologic diagnosis. In conclusion, intravenous gadolinium has an extremely low yield in children under the age of 2 where developmental delay is the primary concern. In young children for whom developmental delay is a secondary concern, we advocate the use of gadolinium particularly where tumor or infection is clinically suspected.