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Making MR Imaging Child's Play - Pediatric Neuroimaging Protocol, Guidelines and Procedure
Published on: July 30, 2009
Cerebral imaging in paediatrics
1Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, England.
Insights
Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) imaging is valuable in pediatric neurology, particularly for epilepsy. New receptor-specific ligands offer expanded diagnostic potential in children.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Nuclear Medicine
Background:
- Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) is a primary focus of radioisotope brain imaging.
- Ligand-based imaging targeting specific receptor sites is emerging in pediatric psychiatry.
- Multi-headed gamma cameras make rCBF accessible in many institutions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the application and considerations of rCBF in pediatric populations.
- To highlight the clinical utility of rCBF in pediatric neurology and psychiatry.
- To discuss the potential of novel receptor-specific ligands in pediatric neuroimaging.
Main Methods:
- Data acquisition and handling require specialized attention in pediatric patients.
- Interpretation necessitates understanding normal brain maturation.
- Review of existing literature on rCBF applications in pediatric conditions.
Main Results:
- Epilepsy, especially complex partial seizures, is a major clinical indication for pediatric rCBF.
- Other neurological uses include brain death, stroke, language disorders, cerebral palsy, hypertension, TBI, and migraine.
- Psychological conditions like anorexia nervosa, autism, GTS, and ADHD are also investigated.
Conclusions:
- rCBF is a versatile tool in pediatric neuroimaging with established and emerging applications.
- Careful methodology and age-specific interpretation are crucial for pediatric rCBF studies.
- Future research with receptor-specific ligands promises to enhance diagnostic capabilities in children.
Abstract:
Radioisotope brain imaging has focused mainly on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). However the use of ligands which go to specific receptor sites is being introduced in paediatrics, mainly psychiatry. rCBF is potentially available in many institutions, especially with the availability of multi-headed gamma cameras. The use of this technique in paediatrics requires special attention to detail in the manner of data acquisition and handling the child. The interpretation of the rCBF study in a child requires knowledge of normal brain maturation. The major clinical use in paediatrics is epilepsy because of the advances in surgery and the frequency of complex partial seizures. Other indications in paediatric neurology include brain death, acute neurological loss including stroke, language disorders, cerebral palsy, hypertension due to renovascular disease, traumatic brain injury and migraine. There are paediatric psychological conditions in which rCBF has been undertaken, these include anorexia nervosa, autism, Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) and attention deficit disorder-hyperactivity (ADHD). Research using different ligands to specific receptor sites will also be reviewed in paediatrics.
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