This study aims to explore a special type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) called Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) in children aged 0-6 months and 6-17 years. The study will enroll 24 participants and will include children with spinal cord disorders, children receiving spinal radiation for central nervous system tumors, and children without spinal cord disorders. An MRI is a machine that takes detailed pictures of the spine. Researchers are looking to see if DTI can help doctors better understand and treat spinal cord disorders. The procedure is safe and does not require any sedative or contrast agent injections.

This study focuses on a new type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) called Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) for children aged 6-18 years, both with and without brain tumors. An MRI is a machine that creates detailed pictures of the brain. MRE combines MRI with gentle vibrations from a pillow-like device to study how soft tissues, like the brain, respond to these vibrations. Although MRE is used clinically to assess liver stiffness, it is not yet FDA-approved for brain imaging. This study aims to see if MRE could help doctors with diagnosing and managing brain tumors in children. The procedure does not involve any injections, including sedatives or contrast agents.

The study will enroll 30 participants.

This study is for children ages 6-18 years, both with and without brain tumors. The goal is to see if the two new types of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans can help doctors diagnose brain tumors in children. An MRI is a machine that takes detailed pictures of the brain. The new types of MRI images in this study are still being tested and not yet approved by the FDA for finding brain tumors. Sodium MRI creates images of sodium distribution in the brain and is helpful for studying different brain conditions. CEST MRI creates images using water molecules and protons in the brain. Both methods are safe and do not require any injections, including sedatives or contrast agents.

The purpose of this study is to look at the Sodium Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings in children with brain tumors and healthy children. An MRI is a machine which takes pictures of the brain. The type of MRI image in this study is a new type that is not yet FDA approved and the study is looking to see if the new type of MRI image is useful in looking at sodium in the brain and brain tumors. Sodium MRI (also known as 23Na-MRI) is a useful non-invasive imaging technique to assess biochemical and physiologic changes in tissues, e.g. integrity of cells and tissue viability. Sodium MRI has been beneficial in the evaluation of several neurological disorders including acute ischemic strokes, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, migraines, and multiple tumor types, including tumors outside of the central nervous system.