Comment on "Thoracic Magnetic Resonance Imaging Applications in Children".

Abstract

We deeply commend Adem Karaman on his effort in summarizing the current applications of chest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children in a recent issue of The Eurasian Journal of Medicine (February 2020) [1]. This is an area that we actively pursued in noncystic fibrosis chronic respiratory disorders, showing that such a technique represents a reliable radiation-free alternative to computed tomography (CT) in assessing the extent and severity of lung abnormalities in conditions including primary ciliary dyskinesia, immune defects, and recurrent pneumonia [2]. In these patients, MRI allowed good to excellent visualization of bronchiectasis, consolidations, mucus plugging, and peribronchial wall thickening. Assessment of MRI performance outcomes in comparison with CT showed high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of most lung abnormalities. However, because of its low proton density, air is poorly visualized at MRI, and therefore, worse performance outcomes were detected for bullae and emphysema, owing to the increased air content typical of these lesions [3].