Pediatric Chest MR Imaging: Lung and Airways

Juan C Baez; Pierluigi Ciet; Robert Mulkern; Ravi T Seethamraju; Edward Y Lee

doi:10.1016/j.mric.2015.01.011

Pediatric Chest MR Imaging: Lung and Airways

Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 2015 May;23(2):337-49. doi: 10.1016/j.mric.2015.01.011.

Authors

Juan C Baez¹, Pierluigi Ciet², Robert Mulkern³, Ravi T Seethamraju⁴, Edward Y Lee⁵

Affiliations

¹ Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, 2101 East Jefferson Street, Rockville, MD 20852, USA; Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
² Department of Radiology and Pediatric Pulmonology, Sophia Children's Hospital, Erasmus Medical Center, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
³ Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
⁴ Magnetic Resonance, Research and Development, Siemens Healthcare, 1620 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02120, USA.
⁵ Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: Edward.Lee@childrens.harvard.edu.

PMID: 25952524
DOI: 10.1016/j.mric.2015.01.011

Abstract

Advances in technology coupled with optimized protocols now permit evaluation of the lungs with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the pediatric population. Although computed tomography remains the preferred imaging modality for this purpose, MR imaging provides a radiation-free alternative that can answer many important clinical questions and provide additional data. In addition, the use of newer techniques and equipment such as MR-imaging-compatible spirometers allows for functional assessment of the pediatric airways. This article reviews the up-to-date MR imaging techniques as well as imaging findings of selected clinically important disorders that affect the lungs and airways in the pediatric population.

Keywords: Airways; Lungs; MR imaging; Pediatric patients.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Bronchial Diseases / diagnosis
Child
Child, Preschool
Cystic Fibrosis / diagnosis
Female
Humans
Lung Diseases / diagnosis*
Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
Male