CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Radiol Imaging 2016; 26(03): 316-327
DOI: 10.4103/0971-3026.190421
Neuroimaging

Magnetic resonance imaging spectrum of perinatal hypoxic–ischemic brain injury

Binoj Varghese
Department of Radiology, Jubilee Mission Medical College and Research Institute, Thrissur, Kerala, India
,
Rose Xavier
Department of Paediatrics, Jubilee Mission Medical College and Research Institute, Thrissur, Kerala, India
,
V C Manoj
Department of Paediatrics, Jubilee Mission Medical College and Research Institute, Thrissur, Kerala, India
,
M K Aneesh
Department of Radiology, Jubilee Mission Medical College and Research Institute, Thrissur, Kerala, India
,
P S Priya
Department of Radiology, Jubilee Mission Medical College and Research Institute, Thrissur, Kerala, India
,
Ashok Kumar
Department of Radiology, Jubilee Mission Medical College and Research Institute, Thrissur, Kerala, India
,
V K Sreenivasan
Department of Paediatrics, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thrissur, Kerala, India
› Author Affiliations
Financial support and sponsorship Nil.

Abstract

Perinatal hypoxic–ischemic brain injury results in neonatal hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy and serious long-term neurodevelopmental sequelae. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain is an ideal and safe imaging modality for suspected hypoxic–ischemic injury. The pattern of injury depends on brain maturity at the time of insult, severity of hypotension, and duration of insult. Time of imaging after the insult influences the imaging findings. Mild to moderate hypoperfusion results in germinal mazatrix hemorrhages and periventricular leukomalacia in preterm neonates and parasagittal watershed territory infarcts in full-term neonates. Severe insult preferentially damages the deep gray matter in both term and preterm infants. However, associated frequent perirolandic injury is seen in term neonates. MRI is useful in establishing the clinical diagnosis, assessing the severity of injury, and thereby prognosticating the outcome. Familiarity with imaging spectrum and insight into factors affecting the injury will enlighten the radiologist to provide an appropriate diagnosis.



Publication History

Article published online:
30 July 2021

© 2016. Indian Radiological Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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