Simultaneous Head and Spine MR Imaging in Children Using a Dedicated Multichannel Receiver System at 3T

Objective: The purpose of this work was to enable simultaneous head and spine Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI) in children at 3T by using a dedicated multichannel radiofrequency coil array system. Methods: A 24-channel head and spine pediatric coil system was developed and constructed. The coil's performance was compared with a commercially available 24-channel adult head-neck coil and a spine coil (1-4 spine of 16-channel were selected). Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and parallel imaging capability were quantitatively evaluated by phantom studies and in vivo imaging experiments. With Institutional Review Board and Ethics Committee approval, the designed coil was used to acquire head and spine images on 27 children in clinical settings. Results: The pediatric coil provided substantial SNR improvements with an increase of 32% to 40% in the brain region and up to a two-fold increase in the surface. SNR increased by at least 18% in the spine region. The coil enabled higher resolution and a faster imaging speed, owing to significantly improved SNR. Extensive coverage of the coil enabled high-quality fast imaging from head-neck to the whole spine. Good image quality with an average score 4.63 out of 5 was achieved using the developed pediatric coil in clinical studies. Conclusion: Simultaneous head and spine MRI with superior performance have been successfully acquired in children subjects at 3T using the dedicated 24-channel head and spine pediatric coil system. Significance: The 24-channel pediatric coil system potentially can enhance pediatric head and spine MRI in clinical research and diagnosis.