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Melatonin as an alternative sedation method during magnetic resonance imaging in preschool children with

Agneza Marija Pasini1, Josip Marjanović2, Goran Roić1

  • 1Children's Hospital Zagreb, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.

European Journal of Pediatrics
|December 18, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Oral melatonin offers a safe and effective alternative to sedation for preschool children undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This method successfully reduces motion artifacts, improving diagnostic quality for musculoskeletal conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Radiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is crucial for diagnosing juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) but is challenged by motion artifacts in preschool children.
  • Standard sedation or general anesthesia (GA) for pediatric MRI carries risks and requires specialized staff.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate oral melatonin as a safe and effective alternative to sedation for preschool children undergoing musculoskeletal MRI.
  • To assess the efficacy of melatonin in preventing motion artifacts in pediatric MRI examinations.

Main Methods:

  • Fifteen preschool children with suspected JIA underwent 16 MRI examinations after receiving 10 mg of oral melatonin.
  • No sleep deprivation was employed prior to melatonin administration.

Main Results:

  • Satisfactory MRI images were obtained in 15 out of 16 examinations (93.75%).
  • No adverse events were reported during or after melatonin administration.

Conclusions:

  • Oral melatonin is an effective, safe, and inexpensive alternative to sedation and GA for musculoskeletal MRI in preschool children.
  • Melatonin successfully prevents motion artifacts, enhancing diagnostic image quality without increased risks.

Keywords:
Juvenile idiopathic arthritisMRIMelatoninSedation

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