Pediatric Brain Imaging

Question: The doctor ordered a stealth CT for my child. She is going to have brain surgery. How is that different that the regular CT?

Answer: Thank you for contacting our Pediatric Ask the Expert forum. We are pleased to be able to offer your family the stealth CT as part of your child’s pre-surgical work up. The Stealth CT takes very thin cross-sections of the brain so that the tumor can be located more exactly than by the standard CT, and is used to produce a three-dimensional image of the brain that can be manipulated and turned by the surgeon to see all angles so that the surgeon knows the best approach to the tumor.

Question: My son has epilepsy. He continues to have seizures even though he is on medication. It is making my life very stressful. Do the doctors at your facility have any treatments that could help?

Answer: Thank you for contacting the Pediatric Imaging Ask an Expert Forum. We understand how disruptive it is to your life when your child has frequent seizures. At the Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center, we have a state-of-the-art Epilepsy Monitoring Unit. The evaluation process is not easy, but it helps the doctors come up with the best plan aimed at relieving this frustrating condition. It includes an extensive physical examination and imaging, including MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), PET (positron emission tomography) scans and MEG (magnetoencephalography). All these procedures can be performed at this facility, and we have specialized radiologists who will interpret the results. Call 713.222.CARE (2273) for a referral to an epilepsy specialist.

Question: My baby is 2 weeks old and has a deformed head. Is she always going to be like that? Does it means something is wrong with her brain?

Answer: Thank you for contacting our Pediatric Imaging Ask an Expert forum. Head deformities in newborns are very common, and usually happen because a newborn’s head is made up of sections that are not fused together yet. This helps a baby’s head get through the birth canal. There is even a “soft spot” called the anterior fontanelle that you can feel at the top of the baby’s head where several of the head bones meet, which should close and harden by age 2. One of the things your pediatrician will do at each visit is measure the baby’s head to make sure the growth is regular and symmetrical (same on both sides). Here is something important for parents to be aware of as your babies grow in the first year: since the American Academy of Pediatrics publicized the “Back to Sleep” campaign to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, there have been more babies with head deformities that do not go away, which are caused by infants in the same supine (on the back) position for too long. Parents of newborns until they are able to sit up, about 6 months of age, should do the following to prevent lasting head deformities: 1. Avoid letting the baby spend long periods of time in car seats, swings or bouncy seats where the head may lag from weak neck muscles. 2. Provide at least 5 minutes of supervised prone (on the tummy) time every day. 3. Try to encourage the baby to alternate turning her head from left to right during mealtime, bedtime or playtime. 4. Encourage the baby to look to both sides by having room decorations and activities on both sides of the crib. 5. Let your doctor know if you notice anything that disturbs you about the baby’s head shape or neck strength so he/she can keep an eye on it. If, at any time, your doctor decides that x-rays of the baby’s head must be taken, you can feel comfortable with the quality of service and care you receive at the Memorial Hermann or LBJ Hospital Imaging departments,which may be contacted at: 713-704-6500 for Children’s Memorial Hermann, or 713-526-4243 for LBJ Hospital scheduling.