MRI of the brain of a child

Modern technologies make it possible to detect various diseases at the earliest stages. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain has already saved hundreds of thousands of small lives.

What is the essence of research?

Magnetic resonance imaging or MRI of the brain is used to diagnose various diseases. Modern pediatric neurology cannot be imagined without the use of this highly accurate diagnostic method. Every day, thousands of babies living in different parts of the world undergo this study.

For the first time, the medical community started talking about MRI of the brain at the end of the last century. This method was an unconditional breakthrough in the diagnosis of various diseases. Quite often, the pathology of the brain remained "dumb". Many malignant tumors and neoplasms were detected only at advanced stages. The capabilities of magnetic resonance imaging made it possible to recognize even the most dangerous pathologies at the initial stage of their development.

Apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging are being improved every day. There are several well-known recognized leaders in this industry in the world. These corporations are located in Japan and America. European tomographs also provide decent quality in research. Various models allow examinations of babies of different ages, including the smallest patients.

With the help of magnetic resonance, doctors get an accurate descriptive picture of all the anatomical structures of the brain. For a correct assessment of the result obtained, the study is carried out in several projections at once. This gives professionals and clinicians a spatial description of where a particular pathology is located. For a correct interpretation, a systematic analysis of all the projections made at once is necessary.

The research method is absolutely safe and does not carry increased radiation exposure.

This safety of the study allows it to be widely used even in infants. In America, no clinical examination is performed without performing an MRI of the brain. Before making a diagnosis, doctors send all patients to magnetic resonance imaging.

The essence of the study is to conduct high-frequency pulses generated in a tomograph to the organs of the central nervous system. In most cases, this procedure is non-invasive (non-contact). Only in some situations is the preliminary introduction of a special dye - contrast - required. It has a targeted and selective effect and accumulates only in the nervous tissue.

Contrast studies are carried out mainly in difficult diagnostic situations, when a simple magnetic resonance imaging is not enough to obtain a correct diagnosis. Usually, such invasive procedures have contraindications and are carried out only on the strict recommendation of the attending physician who is observing the child.

The most widespread contrasting in pediatric oncology for the detection of certain types of malignant tumors and cystic formations.

Magnetic resonance imaging has several advantages over conventional diagnostic methods that are performed daily. These include:

No radiation exposure. X-ray exposure is significant during radiography. Such high radiation exposure is only possible for a limited period of time, so the study can only be carried out a maximum of a couple of times a year. There is no such timeframe for magnetic resonance imaging. It can be carried out as long as it takes to establish a correct and complete diagnosis.
High resolution. Some diseases of the brain are almost impossible to detect using ultrasound examination. In this case, MRI comes to the rescue. It shows pathologies of the brain and spinal cord even in the earliest stages.

How is it done?

The research usually does not require special training. In some cases, it is recommended that emotionally stable and neurotic-prone babies be given an age-specific dosage of a sedative (sedative) agent the day before. This will help reduce the child's anxiety during the study.

If there are any metal elements in the child's body (braces, braces, fixing pins, etc.), you should first tell the doctor about this. In some cases, this will be considered a contraindication for this study.

Diagnostics is carried out in a magnetic resonance imager. It can be open or closed. For babies who have claustrophobia or soreness when in a confined space, it is better to diagnose on open tomographs for the study. Such devices are designed specifically for such patients.

The tomographs are in the form of a cylinder with holes on both sides. A retractable examination table is attached to the fixed part. A small patient is placed on this table and fixed with straps. This does not hurt at all, but it is necessary, since the child should not move during the procedure. Usually the duration of the study is 40-60 minutes. Contrast tomography takes longer in practice.

Next to the baby's head, special sensors are fixed that send magnetic impulses to the brain, which will then be transmitted to special software. This program gives a descriptive picture of the anatomical structures in the brain and allows you to identify pathological abnormalities, as well as dangerous tumors and neoplasms. The doctor conducting the examination is in an adjoining room behind the glass from the examination room.

It is quite difficult for small children to endure the procedure. They cannot remain motionless for a long time. There are techniques when babies are given anesthesia, and then the brain is examined. Usually, such a study is carried out in children aged 1-3 years. The study can be performed under anesthesia in a newborn and an infant. However, the indications in this case are very limited.

General anesthesia drugs are usually given to babies on an empty stomach. Before the introduction of anesthesia, the baby must be examined by a resuscitator. After examining the child, the doctor will be able to select the required dosage of the drug that will be administered to the baby for anesthesia.

If an MRI of the brain is performed for a baby under general anesthesia, then stop eating food in advance. Babies should not eat 2 hours before the procedure, babies over a year old - 4 hours before the study, children aged 5-7 years and older - 8 hours.

There are several ways to immerse yourself in medication sleep: by injecting drugs into a vein or by means of mask anesthesia. Some clinical situations require a combination of these methods.

The choice of the method of anesthesia remains with the resuscitator who will carry out this procedure.

What allows you to identify?

MRI of the brain is one of the most accurate and safe methods for diagnosing various pathologies of the central nervous system today. During the study, the doctor has the opportunity to get not only a static picture, but also to see the work of the organ in real time. This allows doctors to diagnose some neurological diseases that are difficult to diagnose with alternative methods.

Reviews about MRI are the most favorable. Parents who were forced to conduct such a study for their children note that the child did not experience any pain during the procedure. They only note that some kids were very scared of the noise and sounds that the tomograph made during operation.

They include high information content and accuracy to the advantages of this study. The downside is the cost of research.

Brain tomography is recommended when the following pathological conditions are detected in a child:

various headaches that occur at any time of the day (periodic or constant);
pain in the head after performing various physical activities or after a strong psycho-emotional shock;
violations of speech, hearing and vision (the most dangerous cases of sudden conditions);
dizziness of varying severity;
disturbances of consciousness and short-term loss of consciousness, in the event of fainting;
noise in the head and ears;
the appearance of movement disorders, gait disorders not associated with orthopedic diseases;
a sudden decrease in attention and memory impairment;
with the appearance of various intellectual disorders;
when there is numbness in the arms and legs, as well as when you feel a tingling sensation or "creeping" on your fingers.

Contrast MRI of the brain is performed if cancer, neoplasms, and some types of cystic formations are suspected. The study is also informative for the diagnosis of pathologies that have arisen in the pituitary gland. Contrasting allows you to identify metastases of malignant tumors, multiple sclerosis. Also, this type of study is used to monitor the condition and timely detection of relapses of certain brain diseases after surgical treatment.

Contraindications

Many parents believe that magnetic resonance imaging is harmful to a child. This opinion is not entirely correct. In some cases, it is simply impossible to establish the correct diagnosis without MRI. The advantages of magnetic resonance imaging are undeniable. The ability to detect oncological neoplasms at the earliest stages has saved more than one life.

Magnetic resonance imaging, like any other research method, has contraindications. If they are present in a child, then forget about such a diagnosis. In this case, the baby may have severe problems, so the study is not carried out. There are relative and absolute contraindications. If the reason why research is not possible can be eliminated after some time, then the limitation is considered relative.

Contraindications for this method include: