The Sensitivity of Limited-Sequence MRI in Identifying Pediatric Cervical Spine Injury: A Western Pediatric Surgery Research Consortium Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical clearance of a child's cervical spine after trauma is often challenging due to impaired mental status or an unreliable neurologic examination. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard for excluding ligamentous injury in children but is constrained by long image acquisition times and frequent need for anesthesia. Limited-sequence MRI (LSMRI) is used in evaluating the evolution of traumatic brain injury and may also be useful for cervical spine clearance while potentially avoiding the need for anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to assess the sensitivity and negative predictive value of LSMRI as compared to gold standard full-sequence MRI as a screening tool to rule out clinically significant ligamentous cervical spine injury. METHODS: We conducted a ten-center, five-year retrospective cohort study (2017-2021) of all children (0-18y) with a cervical spine MRI after blunt trauma. MRI images were re-reviewed by a study pediatric radiologist at each site to determine if the presence of an injury could be identified on limited sequences alone. Unstable cervical spine injury was determined by study neurosurgeon review at each site. RESULTS: We identified 2,663 children less than 18 years of age who underwent an MRI of the cervical spine with 1,008 injuries detected on full-sequence studies. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of LSMRI were both >99% for detecting any injury and 100% for detecting any unstable injury. Young children (age < 5 years) were more likely to be electively intubated or sedated for cervical spine MRI. CONCLUSION: LSMRI is reliably detects clinically significant ligamentous injury in children after blunt trauma. To decrease anesthesia use and minimize MRI time, trauma centers should develop LSMRI screening protocols for children without a reliable neurologic exam. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2 (Diagnostic Tests or Criteria).

Measurements of The Pediatric Cartilaginous Eustachian Tube: Implications for Balloon Dilation.

OBJECTIVES: (1) Measure the cartilaginous Eustachian tube (ET) length using a computed tomography (CT) scan and (2) develop a prediction model to measure this length without the need of a CT scan. STUDY DESIGN: CT measurements in children. SETTING: Children's Hospital. METHODS: CT scans were reformatted to project the cranial and caudal limits of the cartilaginous ET. The length was measured in 193 children who underwent a neck CT scan for nonotologic indications. Five physicians independently reviewed all or some of these measures. Four different models based on age, age ranges, weight, and height were created and compared to predict ET length. RESULTS: The cartilaginous ET length was 25.3 ± 3.1 mm for the right and for the left ear. The mean ET length for the females was statistically significantly less than the length in males. The lower ET lengths in children as old as 5 years of age were less than the 2 cm adult criteria used for catheter insertion. All 4 models performed equally well in predicting ET length. Model number 4, which is based on height, was the easiest to calculate ET length. CONCLUSION: The cartilaginous portion of the pediatric ET can be measured with good precision using reformatted CT images. We caution against using the "adult" criteria of 2 cm for catheter insertion in children, especially those younger than 5 years of age. We recommend using a model utilizing height measures to estimate ET length or direct measurements from a reformatted CT scan. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 133:396-402, 2023.

Gadolinium-based contrast agent for Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a predictor of postmeningitic hearing loss in children.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if Gadolinium-based enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (GdMRI) can be used to predict sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in pediatric patients diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. STUDY: Design: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah. SUBJECTS: and Methods: We studied forty-two pediatric patients diagnosed with bacterial meningitis who underwent brain GdMRI during their index hospital admission and for whom ear specific audiometric data were available (August 2008-July 2018). A pediatric neuroradiologist, blinded to both disease and audiometric data, rated cochlear enhancement of each GdMRI (0-3; none to markedly enhanced). RESULTS: Ear specific MRI scores were statistically significantly related to ear specific hearing outcomes (p < 0.01). SNHL occurred in 19 out of 82 ears (12 out of 42 patients; 2 ears were excluded due to pre-existing SNHL in one ear and inability to read the GdMRI on the other ear). Ten of 19 ears (53%) that developed SNHL showed mild/moderate/marked enhancement (MRI score of 1, 2, or 3 respectively). Fifty-three of the 63 unaffected ears (84%) showed no enhancement (MRI score of 0). Ten of 13 (77%) ears that developed severe to profound SNHL showed mild/moderate/marked enhancement. GdMRI was 58% sensitive and 84% specific in predicting which ears would develop SNHL. GdMRI was 77% sensitive and 84% specific in identifying severe to profound SNHL. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that GdMRI is a promising tool for predicting specifically severe-profound hearing loss in pediatric patients following bacterial meningitis infection.

Integrating neuroimaging biomarkers into the multicentre, high-dose erythropoietin for asphyxia and encephalopathy (HEAL) trial: rationale, protocol and harmonisation.

INTRODUCTION: MRI and MR spectroscopy (MRS) provide early biomarkers of brain injury and treatment response in neonates with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy). Still, there are challenges to incorporating neuroimaging biomarkers into multisite randomised controlled trials. In this paper, we provide the rationale for incorporating MRI and MRS biomarkers into the multisite, phase III high-dose erythropoietin for asphyxia and encephalopathy (HEAL) Trial, the MRI/S protocol and describe the strategies used for harmonisation across multiple MRI platforms. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Neonates with moderate or severe encephalopathy enrolled in the multisite HEAL trial undergo MRI and MRS between 96 and 144 hours of age using standardised neuroimaging protocols. MRI and MRS data are processed centrally and used to determine a brain injury score and quantitative measures of lactate and n-acetylaspartate. Harmonisation is achieved through standardisation-thereby reducing intrasite and intersite variance, real-time quality assurance monitoring and phantom scans. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: IRB approval was obtained at each participating site and written consent obtained from parents prior to participation in HEAL. Additional oversight is provided by an National Institutes of Health-appointed data safety monitoring board and medical monitor. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02811263; Pre-result.

A 2D threshold of the condylar-C1 interval to maximize identification of patients at high risk for atlantooccipital dislocation using computed tomography.

OBJECTIVE Measurement of the occipital condyle-C1 interval (CCI) is important in the evaluation of atlantooccipital dislocation (AOD) in pediatric trauma patients. The authors studied a large cohort of children with and without AOD to identify a 2D measurement threshold that maximizes the diagnostic yield of the CCI on cervical spine CT scans obtained in trauma patients. METHODS This retrospective, single-center study included all children who underwent CT of the cervical spine at Primary Children's Hospital from January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2014, for trauma evaluation. Bilateral CCI measurements in the coronal (3 measurements per side) and sagittal (4 measurements per side) planes were recorded. Using an iterative method, the authors determined optimal cutoffs for the maximal CCI in each plane in relation to AOD. The primary outcome was AOD requiring occipitocervical fusion. RESULTS A total of 597 pediatric patients underwent cervical spine CT for trauma evaluation: 578 patients without AOD and 19 patients with AOD requiring occipitocervical fusion. The authors found a statistically significant correlation between CCI and age (p < 0.001), with younger patients having higher CCIs. Using a 2D threshold requiring a sagittal CCI ≥ 2.5 mm and a coronal CCI ≥ 3.5 mm predicted AOD with a sensitivity of 95%, a specificity of 73%, positive predictive value of 10.3%, and negative predictive value of 99%. The accuracy of this 2D threshold was 84%. CONCLUSIONS In the present study population, age-dependent differences in the CCI were found on CT scans of the cervical spine in a large cohort of patients with and without AOD. A 2D CCI threshold as a screening method maximizes identification of patients at high risk for AOD while minimizing unnecessary imaging studies in children being evaluated for trauma.

Use of an Amplatz dilator to facilitate transrectal abscess drainage in children.

Image-guided transrectal drainage is an effective treatment option for many deep pelvic abscesses in children. Currently, a variety of imaging and catheter techniques are used to access and drain these abscesses. The present report describes an approach for introducing the transrectal catheter by using transabdominal ultrasound guidance to direct transrectal advancement of an Amplatz dilator with coaxial placement of the metal cannula and inner trocar from a pigtail catheter set, followed by placement of the pigtail catheter via Seldinger technique. This approach eliminates some of the limitations of other transrectal techniques. The present report describes a single-institutional experience with this technique in 13 patients.

Live 3D guidance in the interventional radiology suite.

OBJECTIVE: The development of a C-arm cone-beam CT unit coupled with flat detectors has markedly increased anatomic visualization capabilities for interventional radiology procedures. We present technology in which fluoroscopy and 3D imaging from a cone-beam CT-flat-detector C-arm unit are combined with an integrated tracking and navigation system. A description of the technology and representative clinical cases are presented. CONCLUSION: This new combination further increases interventional radiologic capabilities because it provides real-time procedural evaluation and tracking.

MRI appearance of chondral delamination injuries of the knee.

OBJECTIVE: We describe the MRI appearance of five cases of chondral delamination of the knee. CONCLUSION: Chondral delamination injuries of the knee show increased linear signal abnormality at the junction of the articular cartilage and subchondral bone on T2-weighted (fast spin-echo) images of the knee. Identifying and treating these lesions results in an improved prognosis for patients with this injury.