Adequacy of an In-Neonatal Intensive Care Unit 1T Magnetic Resonance Imaging Compared With 3T Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Clinical Management.

BACKGROUND

This retrospective study aims to assess the added diagnostic utility and clinical value of a 3-Tesla neonatal brain magnetic resonance imaging after obtaining a 1-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging within the neonatal intensive care unit.

METHODS

A cohort of 34 infants had an initial 1-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging and repeat imaging within 14 days in a 3-Tesla scanner. All infants were admitted to the level III neonatal intensive care unit at Brigham and Women's Hospital, and all images were interpreted by pediatric neuroradiologists.

RESULTS

For 31 infants (91%), the 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging showed similar or expected evolution of known findings found on 1 Tesla. For infants with change between the 1-Tesla and 3-Tesla imaging results, there was no clinical impact.

CONCLUSION

Images from 1-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging were sufficient for characterizing a wide range of neonatal brain injuries and abnormalities and repeated 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging did not yield further clinical benefit.