Clinical Feasibility of Structural and Functional MRI in Free-Breathing Neonates and Infants

Background Evaluation of structural lung abnormalities with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has previously been shown to be predictive of clinical neonatal outcomes in preterm birth. MRI during free-breathing with phase-resolved functional lung (PREFUL) may allow for complimentary functional information without exogenous contrast. Purpose To investigate the feasibility of structural and functional pulmonary MRI in a cohort of neonates and infants with no cardiorespiratory disease. Macrovascular pulmonary blood flows were also evaluated. Study Type Prospective. Population Ten term infants with no clinically defined cardiorespiratory disease were imaged. Infants recruited from the general population and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were studied. Field Strength/Sequence T-1-weighted VIBE, T-2-weighted BLADE uncorrected for motion. Ultrashort echo time (UTE) and 3D-flow data were acquired during free-breathing with self-navigation and retrospective reconstruction. Single slice 2D-gradient echo (GRE) images were acquired during free-breathing for PREFUL analysis. Imaging was performed at 3 T. Assessment T-1, T-2, and UTE images were scored according to the modified Ochiai scheme by three pediatric body radiologists. Ventilation/perfusion-weighted maps were extracted from free-breathing GRE images using PREFUL analysis. Ventilation and perfusion defect percent (VDP, QDP) were calculated from the segmented ventilation and perfusion-weighted maps. Time-averaged cardiac blood velocities from three-dimensional-flow were evaluated in major pulmonary arteries and veins. Statistical Test Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results The ICC of replicate structural scores was 0.81 (95% CI: 0.45-0.95) across three observers. Elevated Ochiai scores, VDP, and QDP were observed in two NICU participants. Excluding these participants, mean +/- standard deviation structural scores were 1.2 +/- 0.8, while VDP and QDP were 1.0% +/- 1.1% and 0.4% +/- 0.5%, respectively. Main pulmonary arterial blood flows normalized to body surface area were 3.15 +/- 0.78 L/min/m(2). Data Conclusion Structural and functional pulmonary imaging is feasible using standard clinical MRI hardware (commercial whole-body 3 T scanner, table spine array, and flexible thoracic array) in free-breathing infants. Evidence Level 2 Technical Efficacy Stage 1

Automated summary

The feasibility of structural and functional pulmonary MRI in neonates and infants without cardiorespiratory disease was investigated. The study showed that MRI using standard clinical hardware can provide effective lung imaging in free-breathing infants, allowing for the evaluation of lung abnormalities and providing comprehensive information.