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Studying neonatal bilirubin encephalopathy with conventional MRI, MRS, and DWI

  • Paediatric Neuroradiology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for neonatal bilirubin encephalopathy.

Methods

We collected conventional MRI in 24 neonates with neonatal bilirubin encephalopathy. We performed 1H-MRS and DWI sequences to nine of the 24 patients and seven age-matched healthy control subjects. Multiple-voxel 1H-MRS data were acquired using PRESS pulse sequence with TE = 135 ms and TR = 1500 ms. The spectroscopic regions of interest were the bilateral basal ganglia and thalamus with a 1.0 mL spatial resolution. The data from DWI were collected by using a single shot-spin echo-echo planar imaging sequence with TR/TE: 2900/98, and imaging regions were also focused on the bilateral basal ganglia and thalamus.

Results

Nineteen of the 24 patients had abnormal T1-weighted image hyperintensity in the globus pallidus, but these lesions appeared as normal T2-weighted image intensity in the same region. Ten of the 24 patients had T1-weighted image high signal intensity in the subthalamic nucleus and appeared as normal intensity in the region for the T2-weighted images. The peak area ratios of NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr were significantly decreased (t-test, P < 0.05) in the patients compared to the controls in the basal ganglia.

Conclusion

Conventional MR imaging and 1H-MRS are important complementary tools in the diagnosis of neonatal bilirubin encephalopathy. The study provides important information for applying these MR modalities to evaluate neonates with bilirubin encephalopathy.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Chen Wei and Xiong Zeng for providing assistance.

Conflict of interest statement

We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410008, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaoyi Wang, Wulin Wu, Ashley Chineah, Fan Liu & Weihua Liao

  2. Functional MRI Laboratory MSKCC, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Bob L. Hou

  3. Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410008, People’s Republic of China

    Ping Zhang

Authors
  1. Xiaoyi Wang
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  2. Wulin Wu
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  3. Bob L. Hou
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  4. Ping Zhang
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  5. Ashley Chineah
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  6. Fan Liu
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  7. Weihua Liao
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wulin Wu.

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Wang, X., Wu, W., Hou, B.L. et al. Studying neonatal bilirubin encephalopathy with conventional MRI, MRS, and DWI. Neuroradiology 50, 885–893 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-008-0423-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-008-0423-5

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