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Age-Dependent Signal Intensity Changes in the Structurally Normal Pediatric Brain on Unenhanced T1-Weighted MR
Insights
This study establishes age-dependent brain parenchymal signal intensity values in pediatric MRI scans. Increased age correlates with higher signal intensity, aiding in the interpretation of brain development and gadolinium deposition research.
Area of Science:
- Radiology and Imaging Science
- Pediatric Neuroimaging
- Quantitative MRI
Background:
- Brain parenchymal signal intensity changes on T1-weighted MRI can indicate various conditions.
- Quantitative data for age-related signal intensity in pediatric brains is limited.
- Establishing normal values is crucial for accurate interpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine age-dependent brain parenchymal signal intensity values.
- To analyze these values in structurally normal pediatric brains (up to 18 years).
- To provide a baseline for evaluating developmental changes and MRI artifacts.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 114 gadolinium-naïve pediatric patients.
- Region of interest (ROI) signal intensity measurements in specific brain areas.
- Multivariable linear regression to assess age and signal intensity correlation.
Main Results:
- A significant association between increasing age and signal intensity was found in most tested neuroanatomic areas (P < .01).
- No significant sex-based differences in signal intensity were observed.
- The frontal gray matter was an exception, not showing this age-related trend.
Conclusions:
- Age-dependent signal intensity parameters were established for normal pediatric brains on unenhanced T1WI.
- Increased age correlates with increased signal intensity, excluding frontal gray matter.
- These findings aid in understanding pediatric brain development, potential myelin/water content changes, and confounding effects in gadolinium deposition research.
Background And Purpose:
Various pathologic and nonpathologic states result in brain parenchymal signal intensity changes on unenhanced T1-weighted MR imaging. However, the absence of quantitative data to characterize typical age-related signal intensity values limits evaluation. We sought to establish a range of age-dependent brain parenchymal signal intensity values on unenhanced T1WI in a sample of individuals (18 years of age or younger) with structurally normal brains.
Materials And Methods:
A single-center retrospective study was performed. Gadolinium-naïve pediatric patients with structurally normal MR brain imaging examination findings were analyzed (n = 114; 50% female; age range, 68 days to 18 years). ROI signal intensity measurements were obtained from the globus pallidus, thalamus, dentate nucleus, pons, and frontal lobe cortex and subcortical white matter. Multivariable linear regression was used to analyze the relationship between signal intensity values and age.
Results:
Results demonstrated a statistically significant association between signal intensity values and linear age in all neuroanatomic areas tested, except the frontal gray matter, (P < .01). There were no statistically significant differences attributable to patient sex.
Conclusions:
Age-dependent signal intensity values were determined on unenhanced T1WI in structurally normal pediatric brains. Increased age correlated with increased signal intensity in all brain locations, except the frontal gray matter, irrespective of sex. The biologic mechanisms underlying our results remain unclear and may be related to chronologic changes in myelin density, synaptic density, and water content. Establishing age-dependent signal intensity parameters in the structurally normal pediatric brain will help clarify developmental aberrations and enhance gadolinium-deposition research by providing an improved understanding of the confounding effect of age.
