Neuroimaging in Pediatric Stroke
Bin Jiang1, Mark T Mackay2, Nicholas Stence3
1Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology Section, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
Insights
Pediatric stroke requires prompt diagnosis and care. Advanced neuroimaging is crucial for identifying stroke cases and guiding treatment decisions, including endovascular thrombectomy, in children.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Radiology
Background:
- Pediatric stroke is a significant cause of disability and mortality in children.
- Delayed diagnosis and complex presentations complicate management.
- Neuroimaging is essential for the multidisciplinary care of pediatric stroke.
Conclusions:
- Optimized neuroimaging protocols are vital for improving outcomes in pediatric stroke.
- The review provides a comprehensive guide for clinicians and researchers.
- Future research directions in pediatric stroke neuroimaging are highlighted.
Abstract:
Pediatric stroke is unfortunately not a rare condition. It is associated with severe disability and mortality because of the complexity of potential clinical manifestations, and the resulting delay in seeking care and in diagnosis. Neuroimaging plays an important role in the multidisciplinary response for pediatric stroke patients. The rapid development of adult endovascular thrombectomy has created a new momentum in health professionals caring for pediatric stroke patients. Neuroimaging is critical to make decisions of identifying appropriate candidates for thrombectomy. This review article will review current neuroimaging techniques, imaging work-up strategies and special considerations in pediatric stroke. For resources limited areas, recommendation of substitute imaging approaches will be provided. Finally, promising new techniques and hypothesis-driven research protocols will be discussed.
