Maura E. Ryan MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jie Deng PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

jingyi xie PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Employee, Siemens AG

Shivraman Giri PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Employee, Siemens AG

Abraham Padua, Abstract Co-Author: Employee, Siemens AG

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is highly sensitive for evaluating intracranial pathology in newborns and infants, and can detect abnormalities not evident by ultrasound or computed tomography.  However, MRI in this population can be technically difficult due to small size, motion and limited parenchymal contrast.  Many infants are currently imaged with larger than necessary commercially available head coils or smaller coils designed for other uses. A dedicated phase array head coil with a smaller field of view (FOV) would allow for improved image quality through greater signal to noise, increased field uniformity, and shorter imaging times.

A prototype 16 channel phased-array head coil (Siemens AG, Healthcare sector, Erlangen, Germany) was designed for neonatal and infant neuroimaging. Three of the posterior arrays overlapped with the standard spine array and could be used for cervical spine imaging as well. Imaging was performed on either a 1.5T or 3T (MAGNETOM Aera/Skyra, Siemens AG, Healthcare Sector, Erlangen, Germany) MRI scanner following the clinically diagnostic exam with standard commercially available head coils. Imaging parameters, well as subjective assessment of image quality were compared. Phantom measurements of signal to noise ratio (SNR) were also assessed.  

30 examinations were performed with the prototype neonatal head coil. Patients ranged in age from 4 days to 6 months. Clinical indications included suspected structural abnormality (21), mass (5) seizure (2) and infection (1). Significant pathology was identified in approximately half of the studies (7/13 brain; 6/8 orbit/face/IAC; 3/9 spine). All pathology evident on comparable sequences on the commercial head coil was also detectable on the research coil. Some findings and anatomic evaluation were qualitatively better appreciated on research coil images (figure). The smaller FOV and higher SNR enabled higher resolution imaging without increasing imaging time. 

In comparison to commercially available standard head or small part coils, the use of a dedicated neonatal head coil enables small FOV imaging with better SNR to improve diagnostic quality and decrease imaging time in infant patients.

Neuroimaging in infants is technically difficult and the use of a dedicated neonatal head coil can improve diagnostic confidence.  

Ryan, M, Deng, J, xie, j, Giri, S, Padua, A, Optimized Neuroimaging in Infants Using a Prototype Dedicated16-Channel Neonatal Head Coil.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14009678.html