Purpose or Case Report: Brain MRI in children is often limited by motion artifacts. Radial k-space sampling techniques have been shown to reduce motion artifacts.
To compare a contrast-enhanced radial volumetric interpolated brain examination (radial VIBE) sequence with a magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo (MP-RAGE) sequence in pediatric brain MR imaging.

Methods & Materials: Twenty consecutive children underwent post-contrast brain MR examinations with axial radial VIBE and MP-RAGE. For qualitative assessment, we retrospectively scored motion and vascular pulsation artifacts, lesion conspicuity, vascular enhancement and overall image quality. For quantitative analysis, signal variations and signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of the gray and white matters for each sequence were calculated.
Results: Motion and pulsation artifacts were significant reduced in radial VIBE than MP-RAGE (score 1.8±0.8 vs. 1.0±0, 1.9±0.6 vs. 1.0±0 respectively, P<0.05). Lesion conspicuity and vascular enhancement scores were similar between the both sequences (P=0.06 and P=0.1, respectively). Overall image quality scores were also similar for both sequences (P=0.57). However, in children showing motion artifacts, radial VIBE showed better overall image quality compared to MP RAGE (score 2.9±0.5 vs. 3.5±0.4, P<0.05). The radial VIBE was associated with diminished signal variations, while SNRs of the gray and white matters were significantly higher in MP-RAGE SNR.
Conclusions: The radial VIBE reduced motion and pulsation artifacts in pediatric brain imaging and overall image quality was improved with radial VIBE in children with motions. Therefore, the radial k-space sampling technique could be a good alternative to MP-RAGE for the brain MR imaging of restless children.