Submission ID 130430
| Issue/Objective | There is a delay in the diagnosis of congenital brain abnormalities due to limited access to advanced neuroimaging in low-resource settings, contributing to preventable neurodevelopmental disability. Across sub-Saharan Africa, maternal anaemia remains highly prevalent and is associated with adverse fetal brain development, yet neuroimaging evidence is scarce due to infrastructural constraints. This study evaluates the feasibility and clinical impact of portable low-field MRI for early detection of neurodevelopmental abnormalities in infants born to anaemic mothers in rural Ghana, informing scalable and equitable diagnostic strategies. |
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| Methodology/Approach | A prospective cohort study was conducted at the Kintampo Health Research Centre using a portable Hyperfine Swoop™ 0.064 T MRI system. Infants born to anaemic and non-anaemic mothers were scheduled for imaging at 3, 6, and 12 months. Standardized imaging protocols included T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and diffusion-weighted sequences. Image processing and quantitative analyses were performed using FSL and Python-based pipelines to assess structural abnormalities and diffusion metrics. Clinical findings were correlated with developmental assessments and specialist review. |
| Results | Portable low-field MRI demonstrated high feasibility, reliability, and diagnostic utility in a rural field setting. In a 3-month-old infant born to a moderately anaemic mother, imaging identified posterior fossa cystic dilation, hypoplastic cerebellar vermis, and an enlarged fourth ventricle, consistent with Dandy-Walker malformation. Diffusion imaging revealed reduced cortical-subcortical contrast and white matter abnormalities. The diagnosis was confirmed by pediatric neuroradiology review and resulted in immediate referral for specialized care and early intervention. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | This study demonstrates that portable low-field MRI can bridge critical diagnostic gaps in underserved settings by enabling early, accurate detection of neurodevelopmental disorders. The findings highlight a scalable, technology-enabled approach to strengthening maternal and child health services, improving early intervention pathways, and reducing inequities in access to neurodiagnostics. Integrating portable imaging into routine health systems represents a practical strategy for translating evidence into action, particularly in resource-constrained environments. |
| Presenters and Affiliations | LAWRENCE ASARE KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Ruby Dzifa Doe Ghana Health Service Lawrencia Yamba Kintampo Health Research Centre, |
