Table 2.
Key features for all selected articles that resulted from our systematic review
| Study | Study population (n) | Age range (years) | Scanner | Sedation or anesthetics | Contrast (yes/no) | Sequences | Study aim | Main study result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuh13 | 53 | 0‐18 | Picker International, 0.5T GE, 1.5T | No | Both | T1, T2 | Characterization of pediatric head/neck masses | MRI can accurately characterize pediatric head/neck masses |
| Hudgins14 | 15 | 0‐16 | Not defined, 1.5T | No | No | T1, FSE T2 | Visualization of the normal pediatric larynx | The pediatric and adult larynx differ in size, position, consistency, and shape as seen on MRI |
| Fitch20 | 129 | 2.8‐25 | GE, 1.5T | No | No | T1 | Quantification of vocal tract morphology during development | The post pubertal vocal tract is larger in males compared to females |
| Faust21 | 10 | 0‐16 | Siemens, 1.5T | No | No | SE T1, SE T2, cine‐ MRI | Dynamic visualization of the pediatric airway | Cine MRI can be used to visualize vocal cord movement in children (feasibility study) |
| Mahboubi15 | 45 | 0‐2 | Siemens, 1.5T | No | Both | SE T1 | Visualization of pediatric upper airway obstruction | MRI can characterize pediatric airway abnormalities with high image quality |
| Litman25 | 99 | 0‐14 | GE, 1.5T | Sedation | No | SE T1 | Determination of the effect of age on pediatric laryngeal diameter | In sedated children of all ages the narrowest part of the airway is the glottic opening |
| Litman26 | 17 | 2‐11 | Siemens, 1.5T | Anesthesia | No | T1 | Evaluation of the effect of lateral positioning on the pediatric laryngeal diameter | Lateral positioning increases the airway dimensions in children |
| Vorperian22 | 63 | 0‐6.6 | GE, 1.5T Resonex, T not specified | Sedation | No | T1, T2 | Evaluation of the growth pattern of the vocal tract | The vocal tract continues to grow from birth until 6.6 years of age without gender differences |
| Vialet27 | 30 | 0‐8.8 | Siemens, 1.5T | Anesthesia | No | SE T1 | Evaluation of the effect of head extension on pediatric laryngeal diameter | Head extension increases the laryngeal visualization in pediatric patients |
| Abdel Razek18 | 78 | 0‐15 | Siemens, 1.5T | Sedation | Both | T1, FSE T2, DWI | Characterization of pediatric laryngeal masses with DWI | DWI can differentiate benign from malignant laryngeal masses with sensitivity 94.4% and specificity 91.2% |
| Vorperian24 | 307 | 0‐19 | GE, 1.5T Resonex, T not specified | Sedation | No | SE T1, FSE T2 | Evaluation of developmental sex differences in vocal tract length | Sex differences in vocal tract length exist before puberty |
| Taha19 | 49 | 5‐82 | Philips, 1.5T | No | Yes | T1, T2, DWI | Characterization of laryngeal masses with DWI | DWI can differentiate benign from malignant laryngeal masses with sensitivity 94% and specificity 100% |
| Bécret28 | 155 | 0‐18.5 | Siemens, 1.5T | Anesthesia | No | SE T1 | Quantification of the effect of age on airway modifications due to head extension | In children of all ages head extension increases the visualization of the larynx |
| Aqil29 | 60 | 0‐12 | Siemens, 3T | Anesthesia | No | RGE T1 | Visualization of anatomical changes caused by different pediatric airway devices | Supraglottic airway devices alter pediatric airway dimensions |
DWI, diffusion weighted imaging; FSE, fast spin‐ echo; RGE, rapid gradient echo; SE, spin‐echo; T, Tesla; T1, T1 weighted image; T2, T2 weighted imaging.