Structural (T1, T2) | Provides information to qualitatively and quantitatively describe the shape, size and integrity of tissues. | Assess anatomical development, detect and grade severity of acquired injury13; research: quantitative volumetry and morphometry. |
Diffusion-weighted imaging | Uses the diffusion of water molecules to generate contrast in MRIs. | Ascertain sites and extent of acute hypoxic injury in hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy and ischaemic injury in neonatal stroke12 40; assessment of precystic white matter injury41–43; research: delineate white matter tracts in diffusion tractography; quantify measures of tissue microstructure. |
Phase contrast angiography/venography | Technique that can be used to visualise and quantitatively measure velocity of moving fluid. | Generate maps of the arterial/venous circulation without contrast—essential to diagnose sinus thrombosis, arterial anomalies or embolic phenomena44; research: quantify cardiac and cerebral blood flows.45
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Susceptibility-weighted imaging | An enhanced contrast image that is exquisitely sensitive to venous blood, haemorrhage and iron storage. | Identify small or old haemorrhagic lesions that may otherwise be difficult to characterise, particularly in the cerebellum; distinguish between ischaemic and haemorrhagic punctate white matter lesions46; visualisation of abnormal vessels. |
Spectroscopy | Method for non-invasively determining the relative concentrations of brain metabolites. | Defining brain injury with more precision in hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy and assisting diagnosis of certain metabolic conditions.47 48
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Functional MRI | Measures brain activity by detecting changes associated with blood flow; relies on the fact that cerebral blood flow and neuronal activation are coupled together. | Research: increasing understanding of how the developing brain responds to environmental stimuli, and how it becomes organised into functional systems that can support complex behaviours.49
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Arterial spin labelling | Measures brain perfusion quantitatively and non-invasively at the tissue level, without administration of contrast. | Research: assessment of arterial ischaemic stroke, measuring perfusion in asphyxiated infants.50
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