This proposal will test the diagnostic utility of fast magnetic resonance (MR) in young children with Traumatic brain Injury (TBI). In children, TBI causes >2000 deaths, 35,000 hospitalizations and 470,000 emergency department visits in the US each year, making it a leading cause of pediatric disability and death. Currently 20-50% of these children undergo computed tomography (CT) scanning, exposing them to harmful radiation, and increasing their lifetime risk of cancer. Risks are especially increased in children because the neurologic exam is less reliable, because growing tissues are more vulnerable to radiation, and because children have more years to accumulate harmful mutations. Fast MR is a short, motion-tolerant protocol that has been used in children with shunted hydrocephalus to eliminate radiation exposure without the need for sedation. However, fast MR has not been validated in children with TBI, a critical gap. The investigators will measure feasibility and diagnostic utility of fast MR in children < 6 years (72 months) old who undergo head CT for TBI. The Investigator will recruit children in whom a head CT is ordered for TBI. Consenting subjects will undergo fast MR shortly after CT and results will be compared to determine: 1) whether fast MR identifies all traumatic injuries identified by CT and 2) whether fast MR without sedation can be performed quickly and successfully.

Brief Title

Fast MR for Young Children With Traumatic Brain Injury

Official Title

Fast MR for Young Children With Traumatic Brain Injury

Brief Summary

This proposal will test the diagnostic utility of fast magnetic resonance (MR) in young<br /> children with Traumatic brain Injury (TBI).<br /><br /> In children, TBI causes >2000 deaths, 35,000 hospitalizations and 470,000 emergency<br /> department visits in the US each year, making it a leading cause of pediatric disability and<br /> death. Currently 20-50% of these children undergo computed tomography (CT) scanning, exposing<br /> them to harmful radiation, and increasing their lifetime risk of cancer. Risks are especially<br /> increased in children because the neurologic exam is less reliable, because growing tissues<br /> are more vulnerable to radiation, and because children have more years to accumulate harmful<br /> mutations.<br /><br /> Fast MR is a short, motion-tolerant protocol that has been used in children with shunted<br /> hydrocephalus to eliminate radiation exposure without the need for sedation. However, fast MR<br /> has not been validated in children with TBI, a critical gap. The investigators will measure<br /> feasibility and diagnostic utility of fast MR in children < 6 years (72 months) old who<br /> undergo head CT for TBI.<br /><br /> The Investigator will recruit children in whom a head CT is ordered for TBI. Consenting<br /> subjects will undergo fast MR shortly after CT and results will be compared to determine: 1)<br /> whether fast MR identifies all traumatic injuries identified by CT and 2) whether fast MR<br /> without sedation can be performed quickly and successfully.

Outcome Measures

Outcome measures are the tests that investigators perform to prove whether or not a treatment being tested in a clinical trial is having any effect.