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MR spectroscopy of normative premature newborns
Author(s) -
Xu Duan,
Bonifacio Sonia L.,
Charlton Natalie N.,
P. Vaughan Charles,
Lu Ying,
Ferriero Donna M.,
Vigneron Daniel B.,
Barkovich A. James
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.22460
Subject(s) - medicine , white matter , basal ganglia , thalamus , neuroimaging , in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy , brain development , magnetic resonance imaging , nuclear medicine , radiology , central nervous system , neuroscience , psychology , psychiatry
Abstract Purpose To establish normative metabolite ratios throughout the newborn brain using three‐dimensional (3D) MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI). Materials and Methods MRI and MRSI have been valuable tools for assessing normal and abnormal neuronal maturation for newborns. In this study, we performed whole brain 3D MRSI in addition to comprehensive anatomic and other functional imaging methods to examine maturation. Fifty‐five newborn subjects (28.4 ± 2.6 weeks postconception age at birth, 34.1 ± 3.1 weeks postconception age at scan, 32 males and 23 females) had high quality MRSI studies (104 exams) and normal neurodevelopmental outcome (neuromotor score = 0, mental development index score > 85) at age 12 months. Results The NAA to Cho ratio increased significantly with age for all regions. Lac to NAA ratio decreased significantly with age in the regions of thalamus, basal ganglia, cortical spinal tract, and parietal white matter, and showed a decreasing trend in the other regions. Conclusion Brain metabolites can be obtained through in vivo 3D MRSI and used to monitor newborn brain maturation. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;33:306–311. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.