Diagnostic capabilities of magnetic susceptibility-weighted images in traumatic brain injury in children

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Introduction. In MRI, the difference in sensitivity between tissues is used to obtain images weighted by the inhomogeneity of the magnetic field termed susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) and a high-resolution 3D radiofrequency gradient echo scan with full speed compensation is applied. The aim was to determine the features of lesions caused by traumatic brain injury in children using the SWI sequence. Materials and methods. 535 TBI children aged two months up to 18 years old (average age 9.58 ± 1.5) were studied. There were 325 boys (60.7%), 210 girls (39.3%). MRI was performed without and with intravenous contrast on a Phillips Achieva 3 T scanner with T1- and T2WI, 2D and 3D images, FLAIR, magnetic resonance angiography (TOF MRA), SWI, and DW/DTI, MRS and fMRI, SWI were used for visualization of DAI. Results. Patients included children with severe TBI - 178 (33.3%), moderate TBI - 172 (32.1%) and mild TBI - 185 (34.6%). Of the 535 injured children, 129 (24.1%) had MRI performed within the first 24 hours from the moment of injury, up to 48 hours - at 91 (17.0%), up to 72 hours - in 78 (14.6%) and up to 13 days - in 237 (44.3%). DAI foci at all degrees of TBI were detected in 422 (78.9%) children out of 535 children. Conclusion. SWI is a sensitive method for diagnosing brain lesions in TBI and significantly contributes to predicting outcomes in the early stages after trauma. The amount of brain lesions diagnosed by SWI correlates with the degree of injury according to the Glasgo Coma Scale. The study of the brain functional connections can inform about possible relationships between the localization of the SWI lesion and cognitive deficits, potentially providing an opportunity to use SWI in the hyperacute phase.