Clinical Impact of Ultrafast Cranial MRI Implementation in Children Under Six Years of Age

Background: Young children requiring neurosurgical care frequently undergo repeated neuroimaging. Whereas CT involves exposure to ionizing radiation, conventional MRI is time-consuming and often necessitates sedation in non-cooperative children. To address these limitations, ultrafast cranial MRI (UF-MRI) based on T2-HASTE sequences was implemented at our institution in 2019 for selected indications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the real-world implementation of UF-MRI in children younger than six years of age. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed cranial MRI examinations consisting exclusively of ultrafast sequences performed between July 2019 and December 2024 in children younger than six years. Clinical settings, diagnostic adequacy, immediate consequences for patient management, and the impact on MRI and CT utilization were systematically assessed. Results: A total of 404 UF-MRI examinations were performed in 198 inpatients and outpatients (mean age: 2 years 2 months) without the need for dedicated anesthesia team support solely for imaging. Only one examination (0.2%) required same-day repetition after mild oral sedation. In 20 patients (5.0%), UF-MRI was supplemented by conventional MRI under anesthesia, most commonly for preoperative planning. Immediate clinical consequences included no change in management in 54.5% of examinations, early follow-up in 22.8%, shunt valve adjustment in 11.6%, neurosurgical intervention in 7.7%, and other measures in 5.0%. UF-MRI accounted for 24.5% of all cranial MRI examinations in this age group and was associated with a 41% reduction in CT utilization compared with the corresponding period prior to UF-MRI implementation. Conclusions: In routine clinical practice, UF-MRI provides rapid, clinically sufficient neuroimaging in young children without the need for sedation or exposure to ionizing radiation. Its implementation significantly streamlines imaging workflows, optimizes resources utilization, reduces the need for CT, and supports timely clinical decision-making, underscoring its value as a complementary imaging modality in pediatric neuroimaging.