Pediatric Radiology is a subspecialty of Radiology that focuses on imaging different body systems in the pediatric population, including neonates, infants, children and adolescents, and, in recent years, fetuses.

Children are not small-sized adults, so they differ in imaging from them, both in normal conditions of development and in pathological conditions. For this reason, they should be examined in specialized departments, where all professionals involved are familiar with approaching and handling children. The goal is to achieve the cooperation of the small examinee, based on the development of a relationship of trust and directness, both with the child being examined, and with the parents who accompany him and are often more stressed than him. In addition, pediatric radiologists are aware of the normal changes observed in children as they grow older and of the particular pathological conditions that may arise.

In recent years, due to the rapid technological development, magnetic resonance imaging, which has the advantage of extremely detailed imaging of the different systems of the child, is widely used. As it accurately distinguishes the different tissues and offers precise anatomical information, it excels over other methods.

It does not burden the child at all, since it does not have radiation, so it is completely safe for all ages. In some cases it provides additional functional information, such as in magnetic urography. The disadvantage of MRI is that it requires the cooperation of the child, which is difficult at young ages. New ultrafast imaging sequences in fetal MRIs, as well as sedation of small subjects by pediatric anesthesiologists, improve quality.

Among the special applications of Magnetic Tomography in Pediatric Radiology, we mention the study of the small intestine with Magnetic Enterographythe study of the great vessels with Magnetic Angiographythe study of the urinary system with Magnetic Urographythe Whole body MRI and the Fetal MRI:

With the Magnetic Enterography, we study the small intestine of the child, that is, the part of the digestive tract that cannot be reached by gastroscopy or colonoscopy and is of particular importance in cases of idiopathic inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease. The test is done after the child drinks an odorless solution and is usually well tolerated.

THE Magnetic Angiography, can be performed in cases where we want to map vessels of the body or formations with abnormal vessels, such as vascular malformations, with or without a special drug administered from a child’s vein, the intravenous contrast agent. Thus, in a bloodless way, the vessels of interest to the clinician are visualized and is particularly useful before operations.

With the Magnetic Urography, we manage to study complex anatomical anomalies of the urinary system in children, especially in the case of surgery planning, but also when the “difficult” anatomy needs to be clarified, so that the child can be given the appropriate treatment that will protect the kidneys. In addition, we achieve a functional study with results corresponding to scintigraphy, without the burden of radiation.

THE Whole body MRIis in recent years a necessary examination in the investigation of several oncological conditions in children, such as lymphoma, neurofibromatosis, other precarcinomas, such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome, but also autoimmune conditions, such as chronic non-bacterial osteomyelitis (CNBO).

Finally, with Fetal MRI (fetal MRI), it is possible to study complicated pregnancies or fetuses in which the pregnancy ultrasound reveals a specific abnormality, which is evaluated in detail. But mainly the possibility of accompanying anomalies, which are not easily distinguished by ultrasound and burden the prognosis of the fetus, is investigated. Thus, counseling of current and future pregnancies, the manner and timing of childbirth and perinatal care are affected.