Pediatric brain MRI is particularly vulnerable to motion, which can obscure the subtle anatomic and tissue detail needed for confident interpretation.
In this clinical example, a pediatric brain T2-weighted acquisition performed on a Siemens Healthineers MAGNETOM Avanto 1.5T using 2D TSE-BLADE was shortened from 2:26 to 1:01 and reconstructed with SwiftMR—a 58% reduction in acquisition time.
Sequence Comparison
| Acquisition | Time |
|---|---|
| Conventional acquisition | 2:26 |
| SwiftMR accelerated acquisition | 1:01 |
| Acquisition time reduction | 58% |
For a radiologist, the question is not simply whether the sequence is shorter. It is whether the spatial detail, tissue contrast, and motion-robust appearance required for diagnostic review remain visible at the reduced acquisition time.
Areas to Evaluate
When reviewing the conventional and SwiftMR images, assess:
- Ventricular and periventricular detail
- Lesion conspicuity and internal texture
- Gray-white matter differentiation
- Tissue contrast and noise
- Motion blur and overall sharpness
These features help determine whether a shortened pediatric brain T2WI acquisition remains suitable for clinical review.
Clinical Considerations
In pediatric MRI, acquisition time is more than an operational concern. Longer sequences can increase the opportunity for motion, repeat imaging, and exam difficulty, particularly in younger or motion-prone patients.
A 2023 review by Gallo-Bernal and colleagues, Pediatric Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Faster Is Better, describes how prolonged pediatric MRI acquisitions can contribute to motion-degraded or nondiagnostic studies. When diagnostic images cannot otherwise be obtained, sedation or general anesthesia may be required, introducing additional clinical, financial, and workflow considerations.
The authors identify AI-based reconstruction among the techniques being used to shorten pediatric MRI examinations and reduce opportunities for motion.
For pediatric imaging teams, the value of SwiftMR is not only the shorter acquisition time. It’s that removing 85 seconds from a single sequence can meaningfully reduce the window in which motion may occur.
Image Details
| Scanner | Siemens Healthineers MAGNETOM Avanto 1.5T |
|---|---|
| Sequence | Pediatric Brain T2WI |
| Technique | 2D TSE-BLADE |
| Conventional Acquisition Time | 2:26 |
| SwiftMR Acquisition Time | 1:01 |
| Time Reduction | 58% faster |
Comparison: Conventional acquisition versus accelerated acquisition with SwiftMR AI-reconstruction.
Learn More
Explore the AIRS Medical clinical image gallery.
For additional clinical examples or protocol discussions, contact Dr. Moritz Braig, Head of Customer Success EMEA, AIRS Medical.