Department of Radiology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-0031, Japan.
Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
Jpn J Radiol. 2020 Aug;38(8):731-739. doi: 10.1007/s11604-020-00955-z. Epub 2020 Mar 30.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the delineation of nerve fiber bundles in the brainstem and optic radiation in infants associated with aging on T1WI, T2WI, and phase difference-enhanced (PADRE) images.
We retrospectively reviewed 21 consecutive subjects < 2 years old who underwent brain MRI without abnormal imaging findings. Two neuroradiologists evaluated the eight nerve fiber bundles in the brainstem and optic radiation using a 3-point scale focused on the contrast to surrounding brain parenchyma. We also evaluated the signal ratio of the optic radiation to surrounding white matter on PADRE for each month age.
T2WI was able to delineate nerve fiber bundles better than T1WI at 1 month old, and the images gradually became unclear with aging. On PADRE, almost all nerve fiber bundles were unclear or invisible at 1 month old but gradually became clearer with aging. There was a significant negative correlation between age and the signal ratio of the optic radiation to surrounding white matter.
The PADRE imaging was able to delineate the nerve fiber bundles in infants, and the delineation gradually became clearer with aging. The combination of PADRE, T1WI, and T2WI would be useful for evaluation of nerve fiber bundles in infants.
本研究旨在评估 T1WI、T2WI 和相位对比增强（PADRE）图像上与年龄相关的婴儿脑干和视辐射神经纤维束的勾画。
我们回顾性分析了 21 例连续的年龄小于 2 岁且无异常影像学表现的脑 MRI 患者。两名神经放射科医生使用 3 分制评估了脑干和视辐射的 8 束神经纤维束，重点关注与周围脑实质的对比度。我们还评估了 PADRE 每个月龄的视辐射与周围白质的信号比。
T2WI 在 1 月龄时比 T1WI 更能勾画神经纤维束，且随着年龄的增长图像逐渐变得不清晰。在 PADRE 上，1 月龄时几乎所有的神经纤维束都不清楚或不可见，但随着年龄的增长逐渐变得清晰。视辐射与周围白质的信号比与年龄呈显著负相关。
PADRE 成像能够在婴儿中勾画神经纤维束，并且随着年龄的增长，勾画逐渐变得清晰。PADRE、T1WI 和 T2WI 的联合应用将有助于评估婴儿的神经纤维束。
