An MRI of the brain can reveal:
- tumors
- vascular pathologies
- hemorrhages
- skull fracture
- disruption of cerebral structures
The process of obtaining layer-by-layer images takes from 15 to 30 minutes. The child is under the watchful supervision of our specialists. To keep the baby calm, parents can hold his hand. MRI of the brain for children is interpreted quickly, the results are ready in 20 minutes. Our center employs specialized MRI doctors with over 8 years of experience.
MRI of the brain for children with contrast
A much more informative study in terms of diagnosing cerebral vessels is an MRI of the brain with contrast. The method makes it possible to study in detail the structure of tissues and cells of the brain. It is usually prescribed to patients with cancer in order to examine in detail the contours and size of the tumor, and the degree of its spread. A contrast agent injected into a vein helps to detect a formation at the very beginning of its development and clearly determine its boundaries and structure.
In our center, MRI of the child’s brain is performed on a Philips Intera 1.5T tomograph. The wide tunnel significantly reduces the risk of claustrophobia. During diagnosis, a small patient can listen to a fairy tale or song.
The employees of the Children's Center on Presnya take a responsible approach to calculating the dose and rate of administration of the drug. When performing an MRI of the brain with contrast, the optimal gadolinium-based drug is selected for the child. Diagnostics will allow you to exclude or objectively study:
- benign formation in the pituitary gland;
- benign and malignant tumors of the brain;
- vascular disorders
Preparing kids
Before you do an MRI of a child’s brain in Moscow, you need to properly prepare for the examination. Sometimes medications are limited for a while to get an objective picture. If contrast injection is to be administered, it is best to do the procedure on an empty stomach to reduce the risk of nausea and vomiting.
A detailed consultation with a doctor is necessary if there are relative contraindications to the procedure. Among them:
- severe form of claustrophobia;
- foreign metal body in the orbit;
- the need for constant monitoring of vital signs;
- external heart rate stimulation device;
- intracranial aneurysms secured by a non-ferromagnetic element.
The Children's Center on Presnya conducts head MRIs for children in Moscow in accordance with international standards. We find an approach to children of different ages; we can persuade even the most timid child to undergo the necessary procedure.
Discounts 45%
Treatment and Diagnostic Center named after. N.I. Pirogova conducts MRI diagnostics of children from 6 years old.
The principle of magnetic resonance scanning allows it to be performed not only on adults, but also on children from the first days of life. The electromagnetic field that surrounds the baby is absolutely safe for the body during short-term exposure, unlike X-ray irradiation or computed tomography. Moreover, this diagnostic method allows you to obtain highly accurate results in the form of images that show any tissue changes, pathologies, anomalies and dysfunctions.
Indications for MRI in children
MRI diagnostics is often prescribed for newborns with suspected intrauterine developmental defects after birth injuries. If a pregnant woman is diagnosed with an anomaly in fetal development during a routine examination, an MRI is performed immediately after the birth of the baby to determine the degree of abnormality, the size of the anomaly and begin treatment at an early stage.
For children from several months of life to adolescence, MRI is prescribed if epilepsy, neurological diseases, pathologies of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity, chest, or pelvis are suspected or diagnosed. MRI for children who have suffered trauma allows one to determine the extent of damage to organs, systems and tissues.
An MRI of the child's head is prescribed:
- with complaints of chronic headaches, sleep disturbances;
- for dizziness and fainting;
- with causeless deterioration of vision or hearing loss;
- when identifying psychomotor disorders, frequent mood swings;
- with delayed speech development;
- after suffering infectious diseases;
- after bruises and injuries to the head and neck.
There are no contraindications for MRI for a child. The procedure can be performed repeatedly in a short period of time, for example, before and after surgery for postoperative monitoring, in order to monitor the dynamics during treatment.
Features of pediatric MRI
It is difficult to require a child to remain motionless for the entire duration of the procedure, which lasts more than 30 minutes. Namely, complete staticity is a condition for obtaining accurate images. In children's clinics, in order to ensure a high result of the study, an MRI is performed on the child in a state of medicated sleep. The procedure is carried out under the supervision of an anesthesiologist and pediatrician. For short-term anesthesia, sufficient for the examination, mild drugs are used.
How is MRI scanning of babies carried out in our Center?
Having in our arsenal modern diagnostic equipment - an open tomograph Magnetom C from Siemens, we offer highly professional and accurate diagnostics of children from 6 years old. A high-precision tomograph made in Germany allows you to obtain high-quality examination results. The open-type device ensures a comfortable, stress-free procedure for the baby and parents.
For older children and adolescents, studies are conducted without the use of anesthesia. During the procedure, parents can be at the tomograph, next to the child, which has a positive effect on the children from a psychological and emotional point of view.
MRI of the brain is prescribed for suspected pathologies and anomalies caused by infectious and inflammatory processes or injuries. You can get an MRI of the brain at a discount at the Tomography Center near Krasnye Vorota metro station.
Often children are predisposed to the development of multiple pathologies that are associated with changes in brain activity. To diagnose them more accurately, a popular and highly informative technique is used, magnetic resonance imaging, which will show even minor neoplasms that are only at the stage of formation down to the smallest detail. This article will talk about how MRI of the brain is done in children and what this study shows.
Features of MRI for children
An MRI scanner is a kind of giant magnet that a child is placed into. The duration of the diagnosis varies from 20 to 40 minutes. During this period of time, the patient remains motionless on a table that extends from the equipment structure. In addition, there is a design equipped with an open side wall, it is most often used for overweight people and people suffering from claustrophobia. It can also be used for children who are afraid to be examined without their parents.
The most difficult task when performing an MRI of the child's brain is remaining motionless for a long time. Being in a device that makes loud sounds is a real test for children under 5 years old, which is harmful to their health. Therefore, in order to conduct a high-quality examination and not traumatize the child’s perception, it is often recommended to carry out diagnostics under anesthesia.
Many parents worry whether anesthesia will be harmful to the baby. Doctors say that this procedure uses a mild drug for a short period of time, which is used even in newborns.
Moreover, the question of using anesthesia depends not so much on the age of the children, but on their psychological state. In practice, there are children over 5 years old who, for various reasons, cannot remain motionless inside the apparatus for half an hour. It also happens that a three-year-old child calmly withstands the procedure. Most often, children over 5 years old are treated to fairy tales and music during the examination. Some modern devices are equipped with a screen for watching cartoons and communicating with parents.
The injected dye spreads throughout the body in literally 2 minutes and allows for a more accurate study
During the examination, radio waves interact with a magnetic field, due to which a picture of the examined area is displayed on the monitor. Sometimes, to obtain a more effective image, it is necessary to conduct an examination with the introduction of contrast agents. Most often, this need arises to diagnose a brain tumor and determine its boundaries.
The diagnostic procedure does not entail negative emotions or unpleasant sensations; only a rush of warmth to the head is possible. Important! Before administering a contrast agent, you must inform the doctor about the presence of allergic reactions, if any.
What does MRI determine?
An MRI of a child’s head can be performed not only in the presence of pathologies, but also as a preventive method. This procedure has a fairly wide spectrum of action, based on which it will determine any brain pathology. MRI of the brain and spinal cord is recommended in the presence of the following conditions:
- frequent dizziness, headaches;
- fainting states;
- impairment of vision, hearing;
- seizures;
- inhibited mental development;
- emotional instability;
- various head injuries.
The listed symptoms are a reason to do an MRI of the brain. Many parents are interested in what this study diagnoses. With its help you can see the presence of the following diseases:
- epilepsy;
- cerebral hemorrhages;
- vascular pathologies;
- sclerosis;
- pituitary diseases;
- spine pathologies;
- oxygen starvation.
In addition, MRI shows cystic and tumor neoplasms in the initial stage of development quite well, which is important for their further treatment.
Preparing for diagnosis
The procedure for performing an MRI of the child’s brain does not require special preparation. If the child is too small and will have to be given medicated sleep, then before the study there will be a need for an additional visit to the clinic to talk with an anesthesiologist. He will give you the necessary recommendations to prepare for the diagnosis.
Usually the study is scheduled for the morning. Therefore, it is important not to feed or water the child before the procedure. It is also advisable to avoid eating after 19:00. These requirements must be followed when receiving anesthesia. If the magnetic resonance imaging method is carried out without administering anesthesia, then you can feed the child in the evening, but it is better to refuse breakfast. Because vomiting often occurs against the background of mental stress.
Proper preparation will help ensure your child is in a good mood during the examination.
If the diagnosis takes place after lunch, then you should eat no earlier than 6 hours before the procedure. When examining an infant, feeding is done within 2 hours. When one-year-old children are examined, it is recommended to feed them 4 hours in advance. Before performing an MRI of the brain on children, it is necessary to remove earrings, chains, hair clips, and belts.
In addition to eating, you should limit your fluid intake for 12 hours before the CT scan is done. Be sure to visit the toilet with your child before the procedure. Before entering the equipment room, it is important to remove the baby’s pectoral cross, all metal objects, dental plates, and braces. This can not only distort the pictures, but also harm the baby.
Introduction of anesthesia
The administration of anesthesia has a clear goal: to turn off the baby’s consciousness. Before this procedure, the anesthesiologist talks with the parents and collects information about the child’s health condition. Only after this will he select the best option for administering anesthesia.
Among the many methods that are used for this purpose, the following stand out:
- parenteral, which involves intravenous administration of a drug that provides medicinal sleep;
- inhalation, in which an oxygen mask with the addition of anesthesia is put on the child.
The anesthesiologist monitors breathing and cardiac activity. After the procedure is completed, the child is under the supervision of a specialist until he returns to consciousness. When conducting a study under anesthesia, the child is not immune from its side effects, which manifests itself in the form of allergies, up to anaphylactic shock, which occurs due to intolerance to the drug.
Is MRI harmful?
Most parents ask whether this research is dangerous, whether magnetic waves cause harm to the child’s body. To date, many MRI studies of the child's brain have been conducted. Scientists have not recorded a single negative effect on the children's body. If you point out the disadvantages of this method, they will be general, such as:
- fear of being in a confined space;
- maintaining immobility for a long time;
- the presence of an allergic response to the use of a contrast agent.
Contraindications for the study
There are certain reasons why this study is not recommended for children. All restrictions are divided into relative and absolute. Absolute contraindications for the study include the presence of electronic devices implanted in the baby’s body, the presence of a metal foreign body in the eye socket, if the introduction of a contrast component is required - diagnosing hematopoietic anemia.
The doctor will determine the presence of conditions for which it is undesirable to carry out diagnostics
Relative restrictions include:
- external cardiac pacing;
- drawings applied to the body using metallic paints;
- serious stage of claustrophobia;
- metal dentures;
- inability to remain still due to severe pain;
- the need for constant monitoring of vital parameters.
If a doctor recommends that a child undergo an MRI, then one should not refuse it, since, most likely, there are compelling indications for this. It is necessary to conduct a study, even if it is carried out under anesthesia. This way, serious health problems can be detected early and effective treatment can begin.
Currently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the most informative non-invasive diagnostic methods, which allows one to obtain high-quality images of sections of tissues and organs in various planes. The MRI method is painless and harmless, since to obtain information about the condition of the child’s organs and tissues, MRI uses the principle of magnetic resonance, and not X-ray radiation, as in X-ray or computed tomography.
MRI has very wide indications, but most often magnetic resonance imaging is used to diagnose diseases of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), musculoskeletal system (spine, muscular-articular system, joints) and a number of internal organs.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is most often prescribed to children if they suspect diseases that involve damage to brain structures. About 50% of diseases of the central nervous system in childhood are the result of perinatal pathology. Asphyxia, birth injuries, infectious and other diseases of the newborn are often accompanied by circulatory disorders in the central nervous system.
Therefore, if a child complains of weakness, frequent headaches and dizziness, if you notice decreased vision or hearing, changes in behavior, delayed speech or psychomotor development, then you should contact a neurologist who will prescribe magnetic resonance imaging .
In our clinic, various types of MRI are performed to identify pathologies of the brain and spinal cord:
- MRI of the brain
- MRI angiography (examination of blood vessels in the brain)
- MRI of the pituitary gland
- MRI of the paranasal sinuses
- MRI of the cervical spine
These examinations make it possible to detect the consequences of intrauterine infection and hypoxia, developmental anomalies; the presence of hematomas, ischemic zones, cysts and brain tumors. MRI can also detect the presence of otitis media or sinusitis, hormonal imbalances and other diseases.
It is also worth knowing about the diagnostic capabilities and features of MRI for those parents whose children engage in active sports in which there is a high probability of head injuries: wrestling, boxing, volleyball, alpine skiing and snowboarding, horse riding, etc. In case of head injuries or concussions, it is recommended control MRI of the child's brain.
Our clinic also conducts:
- MRI of all parts of the spine (cervical, thoracic, lumbosacral)
- MRI of joints (shoulder, knee, hip)
- MRI of the abdominal cavity and retroperitoneum
- MRI of the pelvic organs
The MRI method has high diagnostic accuracy and allows you to diagnose various diseases in the early stages. Therefore, if you are wondering “where to get an MRI for a child?” - contact our clinic "SM Doctor".
Features of MRI for children
Our clinic performs magnetic resonance imaging for children from 5 years of age. However, the ability to perform MRI in children is determined as much by age as by the child’s ability to lie calmly and motionless during the procedure. The fact is that during an MRI (15 - 40 minutes depending on the type of examination), the child must lie completely still, otherwise the images will be of poor quality and will have extremely low diagnostic value.
If the doctor recommends an MRI, then you should talk to your child and explain to him the specifics of the procedure. The examination is completely painless, the only physical inconvenience that accompanies an MRI is a rather loud knocking sound during operation of the tomograph and the need to lie motionless on the couch while the platform moves smoothly through the machine. To reduce discomfort, we offer our young patients special headphones that muffle the sound of the tomograph.
Before performing an MRI, it is necessary to remove all wearable items containing metal, watches, chains, hairpins, etc. Also, when preparing your child for the clinic, try to choose clothes without metal zippers, buttons and buckles.
During the MRI, you can stay in the same room with your baby (pregnant mothers in the first trimester are not recommended to be near the operating MRI scanner). After the examination is completed, the couch moves out of the tomograph tunnel, and you and your child can safely leave the MRI room. The conclusion based on the examination results is issued in 30 minutes.
Attention!
MRI is contraindicated for children whose bodies contain metal particles (surgical clips or metal implants, as well as braces, piercings, etc.), since the MRI machine creates a strong magnetic field during operation.
The brain is a unique organ that develops throughout a person’s life. Changes in the brain in children can go in the direction of progress or regression, and in the latter case, even seemingly insignificant factors can play a role. To examine the central nervous system, doctors recommend doing an MRI of the child’s brain.
This procedure is much safer than x-rays and does not have a significant negative effect on the baby’s body. However, many parents are wary of getting an MRI on their children, even if they are 7 or 10 years old. However, doctors say that the procedure can be performed on children under 6 years old, if there are good reasons for doing so.
When MRI of the brain was introduced into medical practice, it was approved for children of school age. It was believed that exposure to magnetic fields could negatively affect the functioning of the central nervous system in a child. For a long time, doctors could not determine whether it was dangerous to use magnetic resonance imaging for children under five years of age, that is, during the period when the brain is actively growing and forming chains of neural connections.
Despite the potential risks and concerns about whether MRI can be done at an early age, the procedures were performed for absolute indications, or if other diagnostic methods were not effective. By monitoring the condition of children after the procedure (sometimes collecting data took several years), it turned out that MRI of the brain did not have a short-term or long-term negative effect on their body.
Thanks to such studies, today MRI of the brain is allowed for babies from the first year of their life. The procedure is well tolerated by children and does not cause discomfort. However, this does not mean that the examination can be done at any time and without prior preparation - the characteristics of the child’s body and the child’s specific perception of the world around him make adjustments to the course of the procedure and preparation for it.
If parents are tormented by doubts about whether MRI is harmful for their baby, it is worth consulting with several doctors about the advisability of using this diagnostic method. Specialists will tell you in detail how the procedure is carried out, what results it produces, and what will happen to the little patient while in the tomograph.
At what age can you have an MRI of the brain?
The question of how many years MRI has been used to examine organs and structures of the central nervous system worries almost all parents. Modern medicine allows the use of this diagnostic method for children over 1 year of age. This means that the MRI procedure of the brain is allowed for children up to 5 years old inclusive, as well as children of preschool and primary school age.
In order to protect the child’s body from the influence of the magnetic field, which is still considered potentially dangerous for the developing organism, gentle examination methods have been developed. In addition, special pedagogical methods have been created that allow children to overcome fear and anxiety.
It is important to know! In special cases, an MRI of the child's head is performed before he is 1 year old.
You can discuss the question of at what age a child can undergo an examination in a magnetic resonance imaging scanner with the attending physician or a radiation diagnostics specialist. The doctor will weigh the pros and cons, and if there are good reasons for carrying out the procedure, you should cast aside all doubts - for children, an MRI of the brain is no more dangerous than visiting a kindergarten.
What are the indications for an MRI of the child’s brain?
To conduct an MRI, a child needs absolute indications that indicate pathological changes in the brain and central nervous system:
- congenital hearing loss or hearing loss over a period of time;
- congenital, acquired absence or weakening of vision;
- variable behavior not associated with mental disorders;
- convulsions of unknown origin;
- pre-fainting and fainting states;
- headaches of unknown origin;
- dizziness or unsteady gait;
- delay in speech and mental development of unknown origin.
Starting from 3-4 years old, children may encounter head injuries while exploring the world around them. Doctors recommend a tomography after a concussion, head contusion, or injury to the eyeball, especially if the unpleasant symptoms described above appear after them.
Contraindications for MRI in children
Magnetic resonance imaging has contraindications, which are divided into absolute and relative. In the first group, doctors include:
- the presence of foreign metal objects in the baby’s body;
- installed pacemakers, hearing aids (implanted);
- congenital intracranial aneurysm after surgery using ferromagnetic fixation.
The list of relative contraindications to MR diagnostics in children includes:
- severe claustrophobia;
- external pacemaker or hearing aid;
- dental braces;
- an unstable condition in which the baby cannot remain in a stationary position.
Special care is taken in children who have drug intoxication, as well as in those who need constant monitoring of vital signs.
Preparation for the procedure
There is no special preparation for MRI for children, but doctors point out that if this is the child’s first experience in contact with diagnostic equipment, he needs to be explained in detail what will happen to him during the operation of the device. Unfortunately, psychological preparation works mainly in children over six years of age. Children of preschool and early age become very restless in the absence of their parents and cannot remain still, even if they are secured with belts.
In order not to cause additional injuries to the baby (both physical and psychological), it is recommended that children undergo MRI under anesthesia. If it is necessary to use anesthesia, the child is prescribed additional tests before the MRI procedure:
- general and biochemical blood test;
- Analysis of urine.
Anesthesia is dosed according to the patient's age and weight. The anesthesiologist administers it. If it is necessary to conduct MR angiography of cerebral vessels on the eve of the examination, the baby should not be fed, as nausea may occur after the administration of contrast.
How does the procedure work?
The examination begins with the doctor examining the little patient to make sure there are no metal parts on his body or clothing. Then he is taken into a room with a tomograph and placed on a table. If it is decided to examine the child under anesthesia, the anesthesiologist injects the medicine into a vein or through a mask. Older children are given headphones in which they can hear music or the voice of their parents. If it is necessary to use a contrast agent, the radiology doctor injects the drug into a vein in the baby’s elbow.
Next, the doctor and parents leave the room with the MRI installation and observe the examination from the adjacent room. In general, the procedure takes about half an hour, depending on how MRI of the brain is done for children - with or without contrast. Contrasting will take a little longer.
Diagnostic result
At the end of the examination, the small patient, if he was not given anesthesia, can immediately leave the MR diagnostic room. If anesthesia was used, he will have to remain under the supervision of a doctor in the hospital for some time. At this time, the radiology doctor will interpret the received images.
A baby is considered healthy if he:
- normal brain activity;
- there are no signs of neoplasms;
- there are no signs of ischemia, multiple sclerosis, hypoxia of brain tissue and its membranes;
- no hemorrhages;
- the vessels are not dilated or narrowed;
- there are no anomalies in the structure of the inner ear and organs of vision;
- no foci of epilepsy were detected.
Otherwise, the doctor describes in detail the localization of pathological areas, their structure, shape, size. The conclusion is given to the parents or handed over to the doctor who referred the baby for examination.