MRI of the Pediatric Brain : Uncommon Disorders, Proton MR Spectroscopy, Diffusion MRI

As medical imaging techniques have improved, both in variety and precision, medical imaging has assumed an increasingly significant part in the clinical care of patients. It plays a major role in narrowing differential diagnoses, directing specific therapies and in non-invasively reanalysing the patient both while undergoing therapy and after the treatment is completed. This is particularly important in the diagnosis and treatment of brain dysfunction or injury in children. In terms of brain function, as with almost everything else, children are not merely small adults. They can have unique medical problems that differ in ways that are sometimes profound, sometimes subtle, from the problems of adults. While symptoms and clinical, historical information are vital diagnostic tools, they are not always sufficient to allow a specific diagnosis to be made with confidence. Therefore, medical imaging has assumed a greater role in early diagnosis and treatment. In treating any group of patients, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding of both normal and pathological anatomy. This book adds to our understanding of both these aspects of the paediatric brain and will be an extre