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Magnetic resonance imaging T1 relaxation times for the liver, pancreas and spleen in healthy children at 1.5 and 3 tesla

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Abstract

Background

T1 relaxation time is a potential magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarker for fibrosis and inflammation of the solid abdominal organs. However, normal T1 relaxation times of the solid abdominal organs have not been defined for children.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to measure T1 relaxation times of the liver, pancreas and spleen in healthy children.

Materials and methods

This was an institutional review board-approved study of a convenience sample of prospectively recruited, healthy children ages 7 to 17 years undergoing research abdominal MRI (1.5 or 3 T) as part of a larger research study between February 2018 and October 2018. For the current study, T1 mapping was performed with a Modified Look-Locker sequence covering the upper abdomen. A single reviewer placed freehand regions of interest on the T1 parametric maps in the liver, pancreas and spleen, inclusive of as much parenchyma as possible. Student’s t-tests and linear regression were used to compare T1 values by age and gender.

Results

Thirty-two participants were included (16 female:16 male; mean age: 12.2±3.1 years; n=16 at 1.5 T). Median T1 relaxation times (ms) per organ were liver: 581±64 (1.5 T), 783±88 (3 T); pancreas: 576±55 (1.5 T), 730±30 (3 T), and spleen: 1,172±71 (1.5 T), 1,356±87 (3 T). T1 values were not statistically significantly different between males and females. At both 1.5 and 3 T field strengths, linear regression showed no significant association between age and T1 values for the liver, pancreas and spleen.

Conclusion

We report normal T1 relaxation times for the liver, pancreas and spleen at 1.5 and 3 T in a cohort of healthy children.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Society for Pediatric Radiology (SPR) Research & Education Foundation. An institutional review board approved this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 5031, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA

    Leah A. Gilligan, Jonathan R. Dillman, Jean A. Tkach, Jacqueline K. Gill & Andrew T. Trout

  2. Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Jonathan R. Dillman & Andrew T. Trout

  3. Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Stavra A. Xanthakos

Authors
  1. Leah A. Gilligan
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  2. Jonathan R. Dillman
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  3. Jean A. Tkach
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  4. Stavra A. Xanthakos
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  5. Jacqueline K. Gill
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  6. Andrew T. Trout
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrew T. Trout.

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Conflict of interest

Dr. Andrew Trout has unrelated research grants from Canon Medical Systems, receives in-kind support for research from Perspectum Diagnostics and Siemens Medical Solutions, is part of the Speakers Bureau in applied radiology, and receives honoraria for authorship from Reed Elsevier and Wolters Kluwer.

Dr. Jonathan Dillman shares Canon, Siemens and Perspectum COIs w/ Dr. Trout

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Gilligan, L.A., Dillman, J.R., Tkach, J.A. et al. Magnetic resonance imaging T1 relaxation times for the liver, pancreas and spleen in healthy children at 1.5 and 3 tesla. Pediatr Radiol 49, 1018–1024 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-019-04411-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-019-04411-7

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