Hyun-Hae Cho1, In-One Kim2, Jung-Eun Cheon3, Young Hun Choi4, So Mi Lee1, Woo Sun Kim3. 1. Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Republic of Korea. 2. Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Republic of Korea; Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-799, Republic of Korea; Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-799, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: kimio@snu.ac.kr. 3. Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Republic of Korea; Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-799, Republic of Korea; Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-799, Republic of Korea. 4. Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Republic of Korea; Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-799, Republic of Korea.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the changes in using patterns of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in preterm infants after introduction of a MR-compatible incubator coil system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Brain MRIs for preterm infants with the MR-compatible incubator coil from March 2010 to July 2014 (n=154, group A) were compared with MRIs prior to the introduction of the incubator coil, from March 2005 to February 2010 (n=65, group B). Clinical data, MRI findings, acquisition time, and incidence of adverse events during the study were retrospectively reviewed. For the qualitative analysis of the examinations, the presence of motion artefact, spatial resolution, and overall image quality were assessed. Signal uniformity of each sequence was evaluated for a quantitative comparison. RESULTS: Comparing with group B, Group A was significantly younger (36+3 vs. 38+3 weeks, p<0.001), had a significantly lower body weight (2006.6 and 2390.3g respectively; p<0.001) at the time of MRI, and had shorter time interval (54.3±2.6 vs. 70.5±4.4days, p=0.002) between birth and examination. Abnormal findings were noted more frequently in group A (n=100, 65%) than in B (n=24, 37%. p=0.001) with a significantly higher incidence of diffusion restriction (n=21, 13.6% vs. n=4, 6.2%, p=0.034). Mean image acquisition time was significantly shorter in group A (21.4±4.5 vs. 25.4±5.5min, p<0.001) with significant lower adverse events during MRI (n=26, 40 vs. n=6, 3.9%, p<0.001). Group A exhibited significantly less motion artefact, better spatial resolution, and better overall image quality with decreased signal variation than group B (all p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Application of the MR-compatible incubator for preterm brain MRI evaluation is safer and provides more timely evaluation of preterm infants with better image quality.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the changes in using patterns of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in preterm infants after introduction of a MR-compatible incubator coil system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Brain MRIs for preterm infants with the MR-compatible incubator coil from March 2010 to July 2014 (n=154, group A) were compared with MRIs prior to the introduction of the incubator coil, from March 2005 to February 2010 (n=65, group B). Clinical data, MRI findings, acquisition time, and incidence of adverse events during the study were retrospectively reviewed. For the qualitative analysis of the examinations, the presence of motion artefact, spatial resolution, and overall image quality were assessed. Signal uniformity of each sequence was evaluated for a quantitative comparison. RESULTS: Comparing with group B, Group A was significantly younger (36+3 vs. 38+3 weeks, p<0.001), had a significantly lower body weight (2006.6 and 2390.3g respectively; p<0.001) at the time of MRI, and had shorter time interval (54.3±2.6 vs. 70.5±4.4days, p=0.002) between birth and examination. Abnormal findings were noted more frequently in group A (n=100, 65%) than in B (n=24, 37%. p=0.001) with a significantly higher incidence of diffusion restriction (n=21, 13.6% vs. n=4, 6.2%, p=0.034). Mean image acquisition time was significantly shorter in group A (21.4±4.5 vs. 25.4±5.5min, p<0.001) with significant lower adverse events during MRI (n=26, 40 vs. n=6, 3.9%, p<0.001). Group A exhibited significantly less motion artefact, better spatial resolution, and better overall image quality with decreased signal variation than group B (all p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Application of the MR-compatible incubator for preterm brain MRI evaluation is safer and provides more timely evaluation of preterm infants with better image quality.