Low field thoracic MRI - a fast and radiation free routine imaging modality in children

Radiography of the chest is the most frequently performed radiological exam ination in pediatric imaging. However, it is associated with the applicatio n of ionizing radiation. In order to avoid ionizing radiation in children a new and very fast MRI technique has been developed at our center as an alt ernative to the pediatric chest X-ray. 100 patients who had received a ches t X-ray were additionally investigated in a 0.2 T low-field MR-scanner by a modified true FISP sequence with an acquisition time of 3.6-4.6 s for a co ronal triple-slice scan. X-ray and MR images were independently evaluated a nd later compared by two pediatric radiologists. Total investigation times (door-to-door time) for X-ray and MRI were comparable. The signal-to-noise ratio for lung parenchyma was 4.6-7.3. Of 189 pathologic findings 165 were depicted on MR images as well as radiographs, 18 were noted on MRIs only, 6 on X-rays only. Overall kappa (K) was 0.87. True FISP MRI may be a good al ternative to conventional chest X-ray, The main advantages are: fast imagin g free of ionizing radiation, easy performance, no need for special equipme nt, optional imaging in all 3 planes, good image quality, and a high diagno stic value. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.