The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
2010 , Vol 52 , Num 3
The Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Early Prediction of Cerebral Palsy
Departments of 1Neonatology, 2Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, 3Maternal-Fetal Medicine, 4Pediatrics,
Endocrinology, Diabetology, Metabolic Diseases and Cardiology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
This work was undertaken to assess the usefulness of magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) of the brain for early prognosis of cerebral palsy. The study
group included 47 neonates (24 term and 23 preterm) with symptoms of
perinatal asphyxia. MRI examinations in term neonates were performed
during the first month of life but not before the second week of life, while
in preterm neonates MRI data were acquired between 38 and 40 weeks from
conception. MRI of the brain demonstrated hypoxic-ischemic findings in all
neonates born with perinatal asphyxia who later progressed to cerebral palsy.
These results support the hypothesis that MRI performed in the neonatal
period plays an essential role in predicting cerebral palsy in both term and
preterm neonates, regardless of their gestational age.
Keywords :
asphyxia, magnetic resonance imaging, newborn, cerebral palsy.