2021 Volume 37 Issue 1 Pages 18-24
Chest radiography is the imaging study obtained most frequently to evaluate the respiratory system in pediatric patients. CT has become the standard imaging method for detailed imaging assessment of both pulmonary and mediastinal structures. Although MRI has the advantages of noninvasive imaging and lack of radiation exposure, its disadvantages in the chest region are the extremely short T2 of the lung, low proton density, and respiration and heartbeat motion artifacts. In addition, the application of techniques to reduce motion artifacts, such as cardiac and respiratory gating, is usually difficult because of quick movements in infants. However, these disadvantages of MRI can be overcome by a new MRI technique that uses an ultrashort echo time (UTE). Recent studies have shown good visualization of the lung parenchyma and mediastinum in adult patients using UTE-MRI. Pointwise encoding time reduction with radial acquisition (PETRA) is a UTE technique that has demonstrated submillimeter imaging of the bronchi and lung parenchyma. We are working on the possibility that PETRA may be feasible for the assessment of the airway system in neonates with congenital cystic lung disease thereby reducing the frequency of the CT exams needed in children.
