Magnetization Transfer and Amide Proton Transfer MRI of Neonatal Brain Development

Figure 4

Axial images from examples of neonatal brain MRI at different corrected gestational ages. Columns (a)–(e) represent images from neonates with corrected gestational ages of 28 w, 33 w + 2 d, 35 w + 5, 37 w, and 40 w + 3 d, respectively. Images from the 4 rows are as follows: row 1 = T1WI; row 2 = T2WI images; row 3 = APT images; and row 4 = MTR images. From Figure 4, we can conclude that, with increased growth associated with age, the T2WI hyperintensity region of deep white matter showes decreased T2 hyperintensity; the formation of myelin in the posterior limb of the internal capsule is revealed as T2WI hypointensity and T1WI hyperintensity. The APT signal appears to gradually increase (signal is somewhat obscured by image contrast). Bright and dark regions (artifacts from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)) can be seen around bilateral lateral ventricles and sulci. These scattered signals decrease with the increasing gestational age. Because with the myelination and proliferation of glial cells, the water content of brain tissue decreases, the sulci of brain becomes narrow, and the signal interference of CSF decreases. The MT signal is increased with gestational ages.

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