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Cawley P, Padormo F, Cromb D, Almalbis J, Marenzana M, Teixeira R, Uus A, O’Muircheartaigh J, Williams SC, Counsell SJ, Arichi T, Rutherford MA, Hajnal JV, Edwards AD. Development of neonatal-specific sequences for portable ultralow field magnetic resonance brain imaging: a prospective, single-centre, cohort study. EClinicalMedicine 2023; 65:102253. [PMID: 38106560 PMCID: PMC10725077 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging is key for investigation of suspected newborn brain abnormalities. Access is limited in low-resource settings and challenging in infants needing intensive care. Portable ultralow field (ULF) MRI is showing promise in bedside adult brain imaging. Use in infants and children has been limited as brain-tissue composition differences necessitate sequence modification. The aim of this study was to develop neonatal-specific ULF structural sequences and test these across a range of gestational maturities and pathologies to inform future validation studies. Methods Prospective cohort study within a UK neonatal specialist referral centre. Infants undergoing 3T MRI were recruited for paired ULF (64mT) portable MRI by convenience sampling from the neonatal unit and post-natal ward. Key inclusion criteria: 1) Infants with risk or suspicion of brain abnormality, or 2) preterm and term infants without suspicion of major genetic, chromosomal or neurological abnormality. Exclusions: presence of contra-indication for MR scanning. ULF sequence parameters were optimised for neonatal brain-tissues by iterative and explorative design. Neuroanatomic and pathologic features were compared by unblinded review, informing optimisation of subsequent sequence generations in a step-wise manner. Main outcome: visual identification of healthy and abnormal brain tissues/structures. ULF MR spectroscopy, diffusion, susceptibility weighted imaging, arteriography, and venography require pre-clinical technical development and have not been tested. Findings Between September 23, 2021 and October 25, 2022, 102 paired scans were acquired in 87 infants; 1.17 paired scans per infant. Median age 9 days, median postmenstrual age 40+2 weeks (range: 31+3-53+4). Infants had a range of intensive care requirements. No adverse events observed. Optimised ULF sequences can visualise key neuroanatomy and brain abnormalities. In finalised neonatal sequences: T2w imaging distinguished grey and white matter (7/7 infants), ventricles (7/7), pituitary tissue (5/7), corpus callosum (7/7) and optic nerves (7/7). Signal congruence was seen within the posterior limb of the internal capsule in 10/11 infants on finalised T1w scans. In addition, brain abnormalities visualised on ULF optimised sequences have similar MR signal patterns to 3T imaging, including injury secondary to infarction (6/6 infants on T2w scans), hypoxia-ischaemia (abnormal signal in basal ganglia, thalami and white matter 2/2 infants on T2w scans, cortical highlighting 1/1 infant on T1w scan), and congenital malformations: polymicrogyria 3/3, absent corpus callosum 2/2, and vermian hypoplasia 3/3 infants on T2w scans. Sequences are susceptible to motion corruption, noise, and ULF artefact. Non-identified pathologies were small or subtle. Interpretation On unblinded review, optimised portable MR can provide sufficient contrast, signal, and resolution for neuroanatomical identification and detection of a range of clinically important abnormalities. Blinded validation studies are now warranted. Funding The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the MRC, the Wellcome/EPSRC Centre for Medical Engineering, the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centres based at Guy's and St Thomas' and South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts and King's College London.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Cawley
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Evelina Children’s Hospital London, St Thomas’ Hospital, 6th Floor North Wing, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Francesco Padormo
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
- Medical Physics, Guy’s & St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Hyperfine, Inc., 351 New Whitfield St., Guilford, Connecticut 06437, USA
| | - Daniel Cromb
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Evelina Children’s Hospital London, St Thomas’ Hospital, 6th Floor North Wing, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Jennifer Almalbis
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Evelina Children’s Hospital London, St Thomas’ Hospital, 6th Floor North Wing, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Massimo Marenzana
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Rui Teixeira
- Hyperfine, Inc., 351 New Whitfield St., Guilford, Connecticut 06437, USA
| | - Alena Uus
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Jonathan O’Muircheartaigh
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Steven C.R. Williams
- Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Serena J. Counsell
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Tomoki Arichi
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
- Paediatric Neurosciences, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Mary A. Rutherford
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Joseph V. Hajnal
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - A. David Edwards
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Evelina Children’s Hospital London, St Thomas’ Hospital, 6th Floor North Wing, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
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