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State of the Art Cranial Ultrasound Imaging in Neonates
Published on: February 2, 2015
Motion Robust MR Fingerprinting Scan to Image Neonates With Prenatal Opioid Exposure
Dan Ma1, Chaitra Badve2, Jessie E P Sun3
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Insights
MR Fingerprinting (MRF) offers motion-robust brain imaging for infants with prenatal opioid exposure. This quantitative MRI technique shows promise for assessing brain development in non-sedated infants.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Quantitative MRI
- Pediatric Radiology
Background:
- Prenatal opioid exposure (POE) can impact infant brain development.
- Assessing brain development in infants, especially those with POE, requires motion-robust imaging techniques.
- Traditional MRI can be limited by motion artifacts in non-sedated infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of MR Fingerprinting (MRF) for motion-robust, quantitative brain tissue measurements in non-sedated infants with POE.
- To compare the image quality of MRF with conventional MRI sequences in this population.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving 13 infants with POE.
- Utilized 3T MRI with 3D T1-weighted MPRAGE, 3D T2-weighted TSE, and MRF sequences.
- Neuroradiologists assessed image quality features (artifacts, structure, myelination) using a 3-point scale.
- Compared T1 and T2 values in white matter regions between infants younger than 1 month and those between 1 and 2 months.
Main Results:
- MRF demonstrated significantly higher image quality ratings compared to conventional MRI across all assessed features.
- Infants under 1 month showed significantly higher T1 and T2 values in white matter regions compared to infants aged 1-2 months.
- Two MRF scans were excluded from T1/T2 analysis due to motion, but included in quality assessment.
Conclusions:
- MR Fingerprinting (MRF) shows potential as a motion-robust and efficient quantitative imaging method for non-sedated infants.
- MRF may provide valuable insights into brain development in infants with prenatal opioid exposure.
- The quantitative nature of MRF aids in assessing subtle developmental changes potentially related to POE.
Purpose:
To explore whether MR fingerprinting (MRF) scans provide motion-robust and quantitative brain tissue measurements for non-sedated infants with prenatal opioid exposure (POE).
Study Type:
Prospective.
Population:
13 infants with POE (3 male; 12 newborns (age 7-65 days) and 1 infant aged 9-months).
Field Strength/Sequence:
3T, 3D T1-weighted MPRAGE, 3D T2-weighted TSE and MRF sequences.
Assessment:
The image quality of MRF and MRI was assessed in a fully crossed, multiple-reader, multiple-case study. Sixteen image quality features in three types-image artifacts, structure and myelination visualization-were ranked by four neuroradiologists (8, 7, 5, and 8 years of experience respectively), using a 3-point scale. MRF T1 and T2 values in 8 white matter brain regions were compared between babies younger than 1 month and babies between 1 and 2 months.
Statistical Tests:
Generalized estimating equations model to test the significance of differences of regional T1 and T2 values of babies under 1 month and those older. MRI and MRF image quality was assessed using Gwet's second order auto-correlation coefficient (AC2) with confidence levels. The Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test was used to assess the difference in proportions between MRF and MRI for all features and stratified by the type of features. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results:
The MRF of two infants were excluded in T1 and T2 value analysis due to severe motion artifact but were included in the image quality assessment. In infants under 1 month of age (N = 6), the T1 and T2 values were significantly higher compared to those between 1 and 2 months of age (N = 4). MRF images showed significantly higher image quality ratings in all three feature types compared to MRI images.
Conclusions:
MR Fingerprinting scans have potential to be a motion-robust and efficient method for nonsedated infants.
Level Of Evidence:
2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 1.
