Utilization of an ultra-low-field, portable magnetic resonance imaging for brain tumor assessment in lower middle-income countries
Ahmed Altaf, Muhammad Waqas Saeed Baqai, Faiza Urooj, Muhammad Sami Alam, Hafiza Fatima Aziz, Fatima Mubarak, Edmond A. Knopp, Khan Siddiqui, Syed Ather Enam
Abstract
Background: Access to neuroimaging is limited in low-middle-income countries (LMICs) due to financial and resource constraints. A new, ultra-low-field, low-cost, and portable magnetic resonance imaging (pMRI) device could potentially increase access to imaging in LMICs. Case Description: We have presented the first brain tumor case scanned using an Ultra-low-field pMRI at Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Conclusion: The imaging results suggest that the pMRI device can aid in neuroradiological diagnosis in resource-constrained settings. Further, research is needed to assess its compatibility for imaging other neurological disorders and compare its results with conventional MRI results.