Pediatric body MR imaging

This is the second issue in the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Clinics of North America dedicated to pediatric body MRI. The importance of MRI in the clinical practice of pediatric radiology continues to increase relative to the introduction of new hardware and innovative pulse sequences, which have improved spatial resolution and shortened scanning times, and to the development of new techniques, such as MR angiography and MR cholangiopancreatography. With these technologic advances, there are new challenges for radiologists, who must understand new physical principles, imaging findings, and clinical applications of MRI in order to maximize the clinical benefits of this imaging technique. This edition of the Clinics was prepared in order to address these issues.

As guest editor, I have selected MRI topics that are considered to be of current importance and of widespread clinical relevance in pediatric body imaging. In particular, I have focused on those applications that have assumed an integral role in patient care and management. The initial article in this issue addresses relevant techniques for performing MRI in children, since this knowledge is basic to optimizing the image. In the succeeding articles, MRI findings are described and illustrated in a variety of pathologic conditions in the chest, abdomen, pelvis, and musculoskeletal system. The final article describes the role of MRI in the evaluation of fetal anomalies.

I would like to express my appreciation to my colleagues who kindly contributed their time to this issue. The contributors are some of the most knowledgeable and innovative individuals in pediatric radiology. Each author has established an interest and expertise in a specific technical or anatomic area. I thank each of them for their tireless work. A special note of gratitude also goes to Barton Dudlick and his associates at WB Saunders for their professionalism and constant attention to detail in producing this project.