PRIMARY OBJECTIVE To establish feasibility and acceptability of diagnostic brain MRI in young children for specified indications using an upright MRI system without sedation or anaesthesia. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES To establish how young children who undergo brain MRI using upright MRI view the experience To establish how parents / carers of young children who undergo brain MRI using the upright MRI view the experience for their child and for themselves. To establish how image quality compares between brain MRI using the upright MRI scanner and the standard MRI scanner used in clinical practice.
Study Design Feasibility study collecting data on image quality and experience of upright open MRI scanning (performed in addition to standard clinical MRI scan), and comparing outcome measures to standard supine MRI scans, in children referred for clinical MRI scanning for (i) symptoms or signs suggestive of brain tumour and (ii) symptoms or signs suggestive of shunt blockage in children with a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt Study Participants Participants that have been referred for brain MRI for symptoms and signs suggestive of brain tumour or who have known VP shunts with a clinical suspicion of shunt dysfunction. 20 participants in total, aiming for an even split between these two groups but will be flexible based on the local clinical case load. Planned Size of Sample (if applicable) 20 young school-aged children (5 to 10 years) referred for brain MRI at NUH. The child participant's parents will be simultaneously recruited
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
9
MRI scan on open scanner and some questionnaires
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
MRI scan feasibility and image quality rating (by neuroradiologists) .
To establish feasibility and acceptability of diagnostic brain MRI in young children for specified indications using an upright MRI system without sedation or anaesthesia. Two experienced neuroradiologists blinded to patient and scanner will assess image quantity and motion artifact on each scan and rating image quality on a five point likert scale.Exams classified as 3, 4, or 5 "good", "very good" and " excellent" are considered diagnostic. The primary acceptability endpoint is defined as: 'more than 75% of child participants reporting a positive experience of the upright open MRI scan'.
Time frame: within 4 weeks of diagnostic MRI scan
Scan acceptability- child questionnaires before and after each scan
To establish how young children who undergo brain MRI using upright MRI view the experience using age appropriate questionaires.The primary acceptability endpoint is defined as: 'more than 75% of child participants reporting a positive experience of the upright open MRI scan'.
Time frame: all the questionnaires will be completed on the study day visit for the research scan, this will be within four weeks of the diagnostic clinical scan
Scan acceptability - patient /Carer questionaire before and after each scan.
To establish how parents / carers of young children who undergo brain MRI using the upright MRI view the experience for their child and for themselves using questionaires. The primary acceptability endpoint is defined as: 'more than 75% of participants reporting a positive experience for their child of the upright open MRI scan'.
Time frame: all the questionnaires will be completed on the study day visit for the research scan, this will be within four weeks of the diagnostic clinical scan
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