| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;2. Translational Lung Research Center (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 156, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;3. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology with Nuclear Medicine, Thoraxklinik, University of Heidelberg, Röntgenstrasse 1, 69126 Heidelberg, Germany;4. Division of Pediatric Pulmonology & Allergy and Cystic Fibrosis Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 430, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;5. Department of Translational Pulmonology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 156, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;6. Department of Pediatrics, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Feulgenstrasse 10-12, 35392 Giessen, Germany;7. Universities Gießen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Gießen, Aulweg 130, 35392 Gießen, Germany;8. Department of Pediatric Allergology and Pneumology, Medical University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany;9. Airway Research Center North (ACRN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany;10. Clinic for Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany;11. Clinic for Paediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany;12. Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease (BREATH), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany;13. Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany;14. Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Immunology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany;15. Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Str. 2, 10178 Berlin, Germany |
| Abstract: | BackgroundA recent single-centre study demonstrated that MRI is sensitive to detect early abnormalities in the lung and response to therapy in infants and preschool children with cystic fibrosis (CF) supporting MRI as an outcome measure of early CF lung disease. However, the feasibility of multicentre standardisation remains unknown.ObjectiveTo determine the feasibility of multicentre standardisation of chest MRI in infants and preschool children with CF.MethodsA standardised chest 1.5 T MRI protocol was implemented across four specialised CF centres. Following training and initiation visits, 42 infants and preschool children (mean age 3.2 ± 1.5 years, range 0–6 years) with clinically stable CF underwent MRI and chest X-ray (CXR). Image quality and lung abnormalities were assessed using a standardised questionnaire and an established CF MRI and CXR score.ResultsMRI was successfully performed with diagnostic quality in all patients (100%). Incomplete lung coverage was observed in 6% and artefacts also in 6% of sequence acquisitions, but these were compensated by remaining sequences in all patients. The range of the MRI score in CF patients was similar across centres with a mean global MRI score of 13.3 ± 5.8. Cross-validation of the MRI against the CXR score revealed a moderate correlation (r = 0.43–0.50, p < 0.01).ConclusionOur results demonstrate that multicentre standardisation of chest MRI is feasible and support its use as radiation-free outcome measure of lung disease in infants and preschool children with CF. |
