American Journal of Neuroradiology 22:1786-1794 (October 2001)
© 2001 American Society of Neuroradiology
ARTICLE
Proton Spectroscopy and Diffusion Imaging on the First Day of Life after Perinatal Asphyxia: Preliminary Report
a From the Departments of Neuroradiology (A.J.B., D.B.V.), Neurology (A.J.B., D.M.F.), and Pediatrics (J.C.P., D.M.F., A.J.B.), University of California, San Francisco; and the Departments of Radiology (K.D.W.) and Neonatology (H.S.B.), Clear Lake Regional Medical Center, Webster, TX.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: MR techniques have proved useful in assessing brain injury from perinatal asphyxia when the injury is subacute or chronic. Recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms of brain injury have made medical intervention plausible, creating a need for assessment of the brain within the first few hours of life. We report the results of early (first 24 hours after birth) MR imaging in seven patients, including proton MR spectroscopy in six.
METHODS: MR studies were performed within the first 24 hours of life in seven consecutive patients who were encephalopathic after complicated deliveries. Standard T1-, T2-, and diffusion-weighted sequences were performed in all patients; single-voxel MR spectroscopy was performed in two locations in six of the seven patients. Follow-up MR studies were performed in four patients at ages 7, 8, 9, and 15 days, respectively.
RESULTS: T1-weighted images were normal in all seven patients. T2-weighted images were normal in three patients and showed T2 prolongation in the basal ganglia or white matter in the other four. Diffusion images showed small abnormalities in the lateral thalami or internal capsules in all seven patients. Comparison with clinical course in all seven patients and with follow-up MR studies in four showed that the diffusion images underestimated the extent of brain injury. Proton MR spectroscopy showed substantial lactate elevation in all six of the patients studied. Two patients died in the neonatal period and the other five were left with clinically significant neurologic impairment.
CONCLUSION: MR spectroscopy performed in the first 24 hours after birth is sensitive to the presence of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, whereas diffusion imaging may help identify but underestimate the extent of the injury. Further studies are ongoing in an attempt to expand upon this observation.
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
Z.J. Wang, D.B. Vigneron, S.P. Miller, P. Mukherjee, N.N. Charlton, Y. Lu, and A.J. Barkovich Brain Metabolite Levels Assessed by Lactate-Edited MR Spectroscopy in Premature Neonates with and without Pentobarbital Sedation AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., April 1, 2008; 29(4): 798 - 801. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. Liauw, J. van der Grond, A. A. van den Berg-Huysmans, I. H. Palm-Meinders, M. A. van Buchem, and G. van Wezel-Meijler Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: Diagnostic Value of Conventional MR Imaging Pulse Sequences in Term-born Neonates Radiology, April 1, 2008; 247(1): 204 - 212. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. S. Scher Neonatal Neurologic Consultations: Integration With Maternal-fetal Medicine and Long-term Outcome NeoReviews, October 1, 2007; 8(10): e435 - e444. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A.I. Bartha, K.R.L. Yap, S.P. Miller, R.J. Jeremy, M. Nishimoto, D.B. Vigneron, A.J. Barkovich, and D.M. Ferriero The Normal Neonatal Brain: MR Imaging, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, and 3D MR Spectroscopy in Healthy Term Neonates AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., June 1, 2007; 28(6): 1015 - 1021. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. Liauw, I.H. Palm-Meinders, J. van der Grond, L.M. Leijser, S. le Cessie, L.A.E.M. Laan, B.C. Heeres, M.A. van Buchem, and G. van Wezel-Meijler Differentiating Normal Myelination from Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy on T1-Weighted MR Images: A New Approach AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., April 1, 2007; 28(4): 660 - 665. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D.J.A. Connolly, E. Widjaja, and P.D. Griffiths Involvement of the Anterior Lobe of the Cerebellar Vermis in Perinatal Profound Hypoxia AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., January 1, 2007; 28(1): 16 - 19. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Shanmugalingam, J. S. Thornton, O. Iwata, A. Bainbridge, F. E. O'Brien, A. N. Priest, R. J. Ordidge, E. B. Cady, J. S. Wyatt, and N. J. Robertson Comparative Prognostic Utilities of Early Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Spin-Spin Relaxometry and Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Neonatal Encephalopathy Pediatrics, October 1, 2006; 118(4): 1467 - 1477. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. P. Chao, C. G. Zaleski, and A. C. Patton Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: Multimodality Imaging Findings RadioGraphics, October 1, 2006; 26(suppl_1): S159 - S172. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J.L.Y. Cheong, E.B. Cady, J. Penrice, J.S. Wyatt, I.J. Cox, and N.J. Robertson Proton MR Spectroscopy in Neonates with Perinatal Cerebral Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury: Metabolite Peak-Area Ratios, Relaxation Times, and Absolute Concentrations AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., August 1, 2006; 27(7): 1546 - 1554. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D.H. Kim, A.J. Barkovich, and D.B. Vigneron Short Echo Time MR Spectroscopic Imaging for Neonatal Pediatric Imaging AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., June 1, 2006; 27(6): 1370 - 1372. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. Boichot, P. M. Walker, C. Durand, M. Grimaldi, S. Chapuis, J. B. Gouyon, and F. Brunotte Term Neonate Prognoses after Perinatal Asphyxia: Contributions of MR Imaging, MR Spectroscopy, Relaxation Times, and Apparent Diffusion Coefficients Radiology, June 1, 2006; 239(3): 839 - 848. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
H. Tekgul, K. Gauvreau, J. Soul, L. Murphy, R. Robertson, J. Stewart, J. Volpe, B. Bourgeois, and A. J. du Plessis The Current Etiologic Profile and Neurodevelopmental Outcome of Seizures in Term Newborn Infants Pediatrics, April 1, 2006; 117(4): 1270 - 1280. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. Ward, S. Counsell, J. Allsop, F. Cowan, Y. Shen, D. Edwards, and M. Rutherford Reduced Fractional Anisotropy on Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging After Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Pediatrics, April 1, 2006; 117(4): e619 - e630. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A.J. Barkovich, S.P. Miller, A. Bartha, N. Newton, S.E.G. Hamrick, P. Mukherjee, O.A. Glenn, D. Xu, J.C. Partridge, D.M. Ferriero, et al. MR Imaging, MR Spectroscopy, and Diffusion Tensor Imaging of Sequential Studies in Neonates with Encephalopathy AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., March 1, 2006; 27(3): 533 - 547. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. J. Neil and T. E. Inder Detection of Wallerian Degeneration in a Newborn by Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) J Child Neurol, February 1, 2006; 21(2): 115 - 118. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. L. Alkalay, L. Flores-Sarnat, H. B. Sarnat, F. G. Moser, and C. F. Simmons Brain Imaging Findings in Neonatal Hypoglycemia: Case Report and Review of 23 Cases Clinical Pediatrics, November 1, 2005; 44(9): 783 - 790. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P.-L. Khong, C. Tse, I. Y. C. Wong, B. C. C. Lam, P.-T. Cheung, W. H. S. Goh, Ngai Shan Kwong, and G.-C. Ooi Diffusion-Weighted Imaging and Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Perinatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: Association With Neuromotor Outcome at 18 Months of Age J Child Neurol, November 1, 2004; 19(11): 872 - 881. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. W. Hunt, J. J. Neil, L. T. Coleman, M. J. Kean, and T. E. Inder Apparent Diffusion Coefficient in the Posterior Limb of the Internal Capsule Predicts Outcome After Perinatal Asphyxia Pediatrics, October 1, 2004; 114(4): 999 - 1003. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Rutherford, S. Counsell, J. Allsop, J. Boardman, O. Kapellou, D. Larkman, J. Hajnal, D. Edwards, and F. Cowan Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Term Perinatal Brain Injury: A Comparison With Site of Lesion and Time From Birth Pediatrics, October 1, 2004; 114(4): 1004 - 1014. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. P. Miller, P. S. McQuillen, D. B. Vigneron, D. V. Glidden, A. J. Barkovich, D. M. Ferriero, S. E. G. Hamrick, A. Azakie, and T. R. Karl Preoperative brain injury in newborns with transposition of the great arteries Ann. Thorac. Surg., May 1, 2004; 77(5): 1698 - 1706. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Bluml, P. Friedlich, S. Erberich, J. C. Wood, I. Seri, and M. D. Nelson Jr MR Imaging of Newborns by Using an MR-compatible Incubator with Integrated Radiofrequency Coils: Initial Experience Radiology, May 1, 2004; 231(2): 594 - 601. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
N J Robertson and J S Wyatt The magnetic resonance revolution in brain imaging: impact on neonatal intensive care Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., May 1, 2004; 89(3): F193 - F197. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. S. Scher Topical Review: Fetal and Neonatal Neurologic Case Histories: Assessment of Brain Disorders in the Context of Fetal-Maternal-Placental Disease: Part 2: Neonatal Neurologic Consultations in the Context of Adverse Antepartum and Intrapartum Events J Child Neurol, March 1, 2003; 18(3): 155 - 164. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. K. Zarifi, L. G. Astrakas, T. Y. Poussaint, A. d. Plessis, D. Zurakowski, and A. A. Tzika Prediction of Adverse Outcome with Cerebral Lactate Level and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient in Infants with Perinatal Asphyxia Radiology, December 1, 2002; 225(3): 859 - 870. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Miller, D. Ferriero, A. J. Barkovich, F. Silverstein, L.R. Ment, H.S. Bada, P. Barnes, P.E. Grant, D. Hirtz, L.A. Papile, et al. Practice parameter: Neuroimaging of the neonate: Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the Practice Committee of the Child Neurology Society Neurology, November 26, 2002; 59(10): 1663 - 1664. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. S. Scher, R. W. Redline, and B. A. Bangert Delayed Onset of Status Epilepticus After Transient Asphyxia in an Asymptomatic Full-Term Neonate J Child Neurol, October 1, 2002; 17(10): 780 - 783. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. C. McKinstry, J. H. Miller, A. Z. Snyder, A. Mathur, G. L. Schefft, C. R. Almli, J. S. Shimony, S. I. Shiran, and J. J. Neil A prospective, longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging study of brain injury in newborns Neurology, September 24, 2002; 59(6): 824 - 833. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||









