Neonatal encephalopathy; early MRI assessment

Abstract

Our study was conducted on 30 neonates who presented with signs of perinatal encephalopathy and early MRI studies could sufficiently highlight the possible etiology and extent of brain injury for most of the cases.

To conclude, we suggest that early MR brain imaging has the potential to be the golden standard imaging choice for assessment of neonatal encephalopathy to provide a guide for neonatal trans-cranial ultrasound for further follow up of the cases.

MR study of neonatal brain provides the clinician the proper information needed for therapeutic planning that can significantly affect the case prognosis (especially in some metabolic disorders) without need of unnecessary laboratory and other imaging studies as it can efficiently differentiate: • Between various etiologies for neonatal encephalopathy such as hypoxia, metabolic crises, infection, traumatic insult or even congenital malformation. • Extent of brain injury. • Follow up to assess the extent of final brain damage.

However, in few cases of signs overlap that hinders proper underlying etiology detection and for long term brain injury sequels detection, other long term and advanced MRI techniques studies are recommended.