Clinical impact of term-equivalent magnetic resonance imaging in extremely low-birth-weight infants at a regional NICU

J Perinatol. 2016 Nov;36(11):985-989. doi: 10.1038/jp.2016.116. Epub 2016 Jul 28.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the clinical impact of routine term-equivalent magnetic resonance imaging (TE-MRI) for extremely low-birth-weight infants at a regional neonatal intensive care unit.

Study design: This is a single-center retrospective study evaluating preterm survivors who underwent TE-MRI. MRI abnormalities were compared between infants with and without cranial ultrasonography (CUS) abnormalities. Cost analysis comparing imaging modalities was also performed.

Results: TE-MRI use increased from 17% in 2006 to 76% in 2010. MRI detected new findings in nearly half of infants, whether or not they had known ultrasound abnormalities. MRI detected more cerebellar (18% vs 6%, P=0.04) and moderate white matter injury (12% vs 7%, P<0.001), and altered simulated neurological prognosis across developmental domains. The cost of TE-MRI was $1600, which was comparable to serial CUSs.

Conclusion: TE-MRI detects new abnormalities and impacts developmental prognosis in the extremely low birth weight, which supports its use despite the added financial cost.

MeSH terms

  • Brain / abnormalities
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Echoencephalography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight*
  • Infant, Extremely Premature
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature, Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / statistics & numerical data
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / economics
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Ultrasonography / economics
  • Ultrasonography / methods*