Structural MRI vs CT imaging in infants with lung disease.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Structural Magnetic Resonacen Imaging in comparison with Computed Tomography Imaging in infants with Lung Disease.
IRAS ID
299606
Contact name
Robert Morton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 0 days
Research summary
Our pilot study will assess whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide similar (or better) images of the infant lung compared to the current imaging modality: Computed Tomography (CT). Medical imaging in babies (neonates/ young infants) is difficult. Babies breathe approximately 40-70 times per minute (compared to 12-20 breaths per minute for adults), are unlikely to stay still, and the areas being imaged are comparatively smaller.
CT imaging of the lungs is associated with a radiation dosage equivalent to approximately 70 chest x-rays. Thus the benefit of imaging to support decision making for infants with moderate to severe lung disease needs to be balanced with the risks. MRI does not involve the use of harmful radiation, though MRI of the neonatal lung has so far, only been performed on specialist neonatal MRI scanners. Our aim is to develop protocols to enable infant lung imaging to be performed on adult MRI scanners and compare the images against clinically-indicated CT imaging.
The Children’s Hospital Charity will fund 5 MRI scans at the Sheffield University MRI research facility. The University MRI team have years of experience in brain MRI scans in babies referred from the local neonatal unit. Potential participants will be identified by the Paediatric Respiratory team at the Sheffield Children’s Hospital. Those invited to participate will be medically stable in a low amount of respiratory support, between 0-6 months of age, and undergoing a clinically-indicated chest CT scan. This will enable us to compare like-for-like imaging without requesting additional irradiating imaging. The MRIs will not require participants to undergo general anaesthesia. In addition to the MRI, parents will be supported by the research team to complete a data collection form pre-MRI (including an MRI safety questionnaire), post-MRI data collection form, and a questionnaire a year later via telephone.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/SC/0200
Date of REC Opinion
6 Oct 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion