Evaluation of Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy by MRI and Ultrasound

• Published in: Journal of diagnostic medical sonography Vol. 29; no. 4; pp. 159 - 164
• Main Authors: Babiker, Mahmoud S., Omer, Awatef M., Al Oufi, Abdul-Rahman
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-07-2013
• Subjects: Basal ganglia; magnetic resonance imaging; neonatal cerebral injury; hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy; sonography
• ISSN: 8756-4793; 1552-5430
• DOI: 10.1177/8756479313484549

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a major cause of brain damage and neurodevelopmental abnormalities in full-term newborn infants. We are reporting the results of a study comparing cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cranial sonography (US) in 150 neonates with suspected HIE. Magnetic resonance imaging findings were normal in 44 patients (29%); 18% of patients showed only basal ganglia (BG) brightness, 10.6% showed brightness of the BG with intracerebral hemorrhage, and 63% of patients showed additional diagnostic details. Cranial US was normal in 75 patients (50%) and showed increased periventricular echogenicity in 32%, intraventricular hemorrhage in 9%, and additional diagnostic details in 13%. There was a positive correlation between MRI studies and US (P = .013). These data suggest that US is a worthwhile modality for the diagnosis of HIE but that early MRI findings will provide additional information in many cases in the detection of cerebral intraventricular hemorrhage.