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Normal volumetric and T1 relaxation time values at 1.5 T in segmented pediatric brain MRI using a MP2RAGE acquisition
Baptiste Morel1,2, Gian Franco Piredda3,4,5, Jean-Philippe Cottier6
1Inserm UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Tours, France. bamorel@univ-tours.fr.
Insights
This study developed a tailored 3D MP2RAGE MRI sequence to create normative ranges for brain volume and T1 relaxation times in children. These findings aid in understanding normal brain maturation and identifying neurodevelopmental disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Pediatric Radiology
- Brain Development
Background:
- Assessing normal brain maturation in children is crucial for identifying neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques offer precise measurements of brain structure and tissue properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and validate a tailored 3D Magnetization Prepared 2 Rapid Acquisition with Gradient Echo (MP2RAGE) sequence for comprehensive brain assessment in pediatric populations.
- To establish normative reference ranges for brain volumes and T1 relaxation times in healthy, maturing brains from 1 to 16 years of age.
Main Methods:
- A prospective monocentric study recruited 70 healthy children (35 girls, 35 boys) aged 1-16 years.
- Brain MRI was performed at 1.5T using a 20-channel head coil with an optimized 3D MP2RAGE sequence (acquisition time: 6:36 min).
- Automated 38-region brain segmentation (MorphoBox) and T1 relaxometry were performed, utilizing age-group adapted T1-weighted templates for analysis.
Main Results:
- Successful automated brain segmentation and T1 mapping were achieved in all participants.
- An age-dependent model demonstrated changes in brain volume and T1 relaxometry during maturation.
- Intracranial volume stabilized around 1400 mL in adolescence, with similar trends observed for white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) volumes. T1 relaxation times decreased progressively, with a more pronounced drop in WM during the first year of life.
Conclusions:
- The optimized 3D MP2RAGE sequence reliably quantified brain volumes and T1 relaxation times in pediatric subjects.
- Established normative ranges provide an objective benchmark for comparing individual pediatric brain development.
- These normative data are valuable for understanding, describing, and potentially identifying neurodevelopmental disorders in children.
Objectives:
This study introduced a tailored MP2RAGE-based brain acquisition for a comprehensive assessment of the normal maturing brain.
Methods:
Seventy normal patients (35 girls and 35 boys) from 1 to 16 years of age were recruited within a prospective monocentric study conducted from a single University Hospital. Brain MRI examinations were performed at 1.5 T using a 20-channel head coil and an optimized 3D MP2RAGE sequence with a total acquisition time of 6:36 min. Automated 38 region segmentation was performed using the MorphoBox (template registration, bias field correction, brain extraction, and tissue classification) which underwent a major adaptation of three age-group T1-weighted templates. Volumetry and T1 relaxometry reference ranges were established using a logarithmic model and a modified Gompertz growth respectively.
Results:
Detailed automated brain segmentation and T1 mapping were successful in all patients. Using these data, an age-dependent model of normal brain maturation with respect to changes in volume and T1 relaxometry was established. After an initial rapid increase until 24 months of life, the total intracranial volume was found to converge towards 1400 mL during adolescence. The expected volumes of white matter (WM) and cortical gray matter (GM) showed a similar trend with age. After an initial major decrease, T1 relaxation times were observed to decrease progressively in all brain structures. The T1 drop in the first year of life was more pronounced in WM (from 1000-1100 to 650-700 ms) than in GM structures.
Conclusion:
The 3D MP2RAGE sequence allowed to establish brain volume and T1 relaxation time normative ranges in pediatrics.
Key Points:
• The 3D MP2RAGE sequence provided a reliable quantitative assessment of brain volumes and T1 relaxation times during childhood. • An age-dependent model of normal brain maturation was established. • The normative ranges enable an objective comparison to a normal cohort, which can be useful to further understand, describe, and identify neurodevelopmental disorders in children.
