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Published on: January 22, 2017
Application of Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping in the Assessment of Iron Content in Brain Regions of Normal
Shilong Tang1, Guanping Zhang2, Xianfan Liu2
1Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders.
Insights
Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) reveals increasing brain iron content with age in children. Left-sided brain regions show higher iron levels in older children, indicating developmental changes in iron distribution.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Pediatric Neurology
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Iron is crucial for brain development and function.
- Accurate measurement of brain iron content in children is essential for understanding neurodevelopmental processes.
- Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) offers a non-invasive method to assess iron deposition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate brain iron content in a healthy pediatric population using quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM).
- To investigate the relationship between age, sex, and brain region on iron distribution in children.
Main Methods:
- Healthy children aged 2-18 years (200 males, 200 females) underwent 3D T1 anatomical MRI and enhanced T2 star-weighted angiography (ESWAN) sequences.
- Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) was applied to ESWAN images to assess brain iron content.
- Magnetic susceptibility values were compared across age groups, sexes, brain sides, and specific brain regions.
Main Results:
- Brain iron content, measured by magnetic susceptibility, increased with age, showing a positive correlation (r=0.63, P<0.05).
- No significant difference in iron levels was found between left and right brain hemispheres in children aged 2-6 years.
- In children aged 6-18 years, higher iron levels were observed in the left putamen, globus pallidus, and substantia nigra compared to the right side (P<0.05).
Conclusions:
- Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) is a viable tool for assessing brain iron content in pediatric populations.
- Iron distribution in the brain changes with age and shows lateralization in specific regions during childhood and adolescence.
Purpose:
We evaluated brain iron content in a healthy pediatric population using quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM).
Methods:
From June 2018 to December 2019, healthy subjects aged 2-18 years old (200 males, 200 females) with no anatomical abnormalities were assessed. All of the children underwent 3D T1 anatomical MRIs in addition to the sequence scans of enhanced T2 star-weighted angiography (ESWAN). The ESWAN sequence images were obtained with software to attain quantitative susceptibility mapping of the entire brain. The magnetic susceptibility values in the same brain region were compared across different age groups. The magnetic susceptibility values expressed in the same age group were compared across sexes, brain sides, and brain regions.
Results:
The magnetic susceptibility value of each brain region increased with age, and the magnetic susceptibility value expressed by each brain region demonstrated a positive correlation with the children's age (r=0.63, P<0.05). No dramatic difference in magnetic susceptibility was observed between the brain's left side and right side in the children within the age range ≥2-<6; however, among the children within the age range ≥6-<18, the magnetic susceptibility values expressed by the left putamen nucleus, globus pallidus, and substantia nigra were higher than those expressed by the same regions on the right side (P<0.05).
Conclusion:
Quantitative susceptibility mapping can be used to evaluate the content of iron in each brain region of normal children.
