Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Central Nervous System Diseases in Children [Article in Croatian]

Abstract

There are many different pathological conditions of the central nervous system of the child, but also many different diagnostic tools available for their detection and evaluation: conventional radiography, ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and diagnostic methods that combine nuclear medicine and radiology, such PET-CT. Each diagnostic method has its own advantages and disadvantages and accordingly takes its place in the diagnostic algorithm. Magnetic resonance imaging provides clear presentation of anatomic structures and pathological changes in different planes with different MR sequences. That allows differentiation of small anatomical details as well as similar pathological changes and gives information about the character of the pathological condition itself. The main advantages of MRI in comparison to other imaging methods are the possibility of a multiplanar approach, good contrast and spatial resolution especially for soft tissues, lack of ionising radiation and the possibility of functional imaging of brain.