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American Journal of Neuroradiology 20:917-922 (5 1999)
© 1999 American Society of Neuroradiology

ARTICLE

Developmental Changes of Cerebral Blood Flow and Oxygen Metabolism in Children

Toshie Takahashi^,a, Reizo Shirane^a, Shinya Sato^a and Takashi Yoshimoto^a

^a From the Department of Neurosurgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine, 1–1 Seiryou-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Normal values for cerebral blood flow (CBF) and metabolism in adults are well established, but not for children. Our goal, therefore, was to clarify functional developmental changes of the brain in children in relation to CBF and oxygen metabolism.

METHODS: We measured regional CBF (rCBF), regional cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen (rCMRO₂), and regional oxygen extraction fraction (rOEF), using positron emission tomography (PET). We performed 30 PET studies in 24 children ages 10 days to 16 years (nine boys, 15 girls), using a steady inhalation method with C¹⁵O₂, ¹⁵O₂, and ¹⁵CO in order to measure rCBF, rCMRO₂, and rOEF, respectively. Regions of interest were set in the primary cerebral areas (sensorimotor, visual, temporal, and parietal cortex), cerebral association areas (frontal and visual association), basal ganglia (lenticular and thalamus), and posterior fossa (brain stem and cerebellar cortex). Subjects were grouped by age (<1, 1 to <3, 3 to <8, and 8 years), and the absolute values of the parameters were compared with those obtained from 10 healthy adults.

RESULTS: rCBF and rCMRO₂ were lower in the neonatal period than in older children and adults, and increased significantly during early childhood. rCBF was higher as compared with adults, peaking around age 7, whereas rCMRO₂ was relatively high, with the last area to increase being the frontal association cortex. Both rCBF and rCMRO₂ reached adult values during adolescence. No difference in rCBF was observed between the basal ganglia and the primary cerebral cortex; however, it was prominent in the occipital lobe in every age bracket. No significant changes in rOEF were found during childhood.

CONCLUSION: The dynamic changes of rCBF and rCMRO₂ observed in children probably reflect the physiologic developmental state within anatomic areas of the brain.

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