Radiology, Vol 155, 131-136, Copyright © 1985 by Radiological Society of North America
Central nervous system tumors in children: detection by magnetic resonance imaging
W Kucharczyk, M Brant-Zawadzki, D Sobel, MB Edwards, WM Kelly, D Norman and TH Newton
Fifty-one pediatric patients who were suspected of having central nervous
system (CNS) tumors underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging using a 0.35
T Diasonics MT/S system. Pulse intervals (TR) ranged from 0.5 to 2.0
seconds with echo delays (TE) of 28 and 56 msec. The ability of MR and
contrast-enhanced CT to detect focal lesions, determine lesion extent, and
evaluate associated abnormalities was compared. In most patients in whom
there was suspected spinal cord disease, comparison with myelography was
made. Thirty-three intracranial lesions were detected with at least one
imaging modality in 43 cranial examinations. MR was judged superior to CT
in 14 of these cases and CT superior to MR in only one. Of eight spinal
examinations, there were six that demonstrated abnormal findings. MR was
superior to CT in all six cases and better than myelography in four of five
cases where myelography was performed. Spin echo (SE) sequences with long
pulse intervals were the most sensitive, but in some cases short pulse
intervals permitted further characterization of the lesion. Patient motion
was not a problem; sedation was routinely used in children younger than
five years of age. MR imaging has rapidly become a valuable diagnostic
modality in neuroradiology. The lack of ionizing radiation and the ability
to evaluate the spinal cord noninvasively makes it particularly attractive
in examination of children.
