Initial application of synthetic MRI in evaluating brain maturation of preterm infants

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• Clinical Article •

ZHAO Caiwen ZHAO Xin LIU Yanchao XING Qingna ZHANG Xiaoan

Cite this article as: Zhao CW, Zhao X, Liu YC, et al. Initial application of synthetic MRI in evaluating brain maturation of preterm infants[J]. Chin J Magn Reson Imaging, 2021, 12(12): 1-5. DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2021.12.001.

Abstract

[Abstract] Objective To explore the application value of Synthetic MRI for assessing the brain maturation of preterm infants. Materials and Methods: Conventional and synthetic MRI (magnetic resonance imaging compilation, MAGiC) acquisition on a 3.0 T MRI scanner were performed in 31 preterm infants [29 to 36 weeks gestational age (GA)] and 40 term controls (37 to 41 weeks GA) at term-equivalent age (37 to 45 weeks). The quantitative parameters of T1, T2, and proton density (PD) valus were measured. The correlations between T1, T2, PD and postmenstrual age (PMA) were analyzed at scan. The differences of parameters in relation to brain region location and the groups were evaluated.Results ①Posterior regions within corpus callosum (CC) and internal capsule (IC) demonstrated significantly lower T1, T2, PD values compared to anterior regions. Centrally located fibers demonstrated lower T1, T2, PD values than peripheral cerebral lobes including the posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC), cerebral peduncle (CereP) (all P＜0.05). ②T1 and T2 relaxation times were positively correlated with PMA at scan in most selected white matter regions and deep gray matter of preterm infants. The best correlation was observed in the PLIC (r=-0.695, r=-0.807, all P＜0.001). Similar developmental trends were observed in the term infants, but the correlation coefficient was lower in the same region (P＜0.05). ③Significantly prolonged regional tissue relaxation time was found in PLIC, anterior limb of the internal capsule (ALIC), centrum semiovale (CS) and optic radiation (PTR), which was best illustrated in the PLIC and in the CS (all P＜0.05).Conclusions Temporal-spatial patterns of brain development at near-term age is identified by Synthetic MRI-based T1 and T2 relaxation times. And the tissue relaxation exhibit differences between the preterm and term control groups. Synthetic MRI may be one of valuable indices to evaluate brain maturation in preterm infants.

[Keywords] synthetic magnetic resonance imaging；brain maturation；preterm infants；relaxometry；myelination

Contributor Information

ZHAO Caiwen ZHAO Xin LIU Yanchao XING Qingna ZHANG Xiaoan^*

Department of Radiology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450051, China

Zhang XA, E-mail: zxa＠vip.163.com

Conflicts of interest None.

Publication Information

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81870983).

Received 2021-07-24

Accepted 2021-09-18

DOI: 10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2021.12.001

Text

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