Yang Liu MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Huimao Zhang, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Qiang Wang, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ziheng Zhang, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Zhuo Wang, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Meng Wang, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To investigate the contribution of a combined SWI and 3D ASL MRI to the diagnosis and prognosis of neonatal encephalopathy, through an exploration of the correspondence of the obtained cerebral blood flow (CBF) and R2* mappings, and the reconstructed 3D cerebral vasculature to the physiopathological findings of neonatal brain.

17 neonates ( preterm in 10 and term in 7) with clinically confirmed neonatal encephalopathy were recruited in this prospectively study with the permission of neonates' parents and the approval of ethics committee of  our hospital. All the neonates underwent MRI exam on a 3.0T scanner (MR750, GE, Waukesha) with the protocol including the conventional MRI, ESWAN and 3D ASL. From the obtained R2* and CBF mappings, the R2* and CBF values of 9 cerebral regions of interest (ROIs) were blindly measured by 2 experienced radiologists. Paired-Samples T Test and Independe-Samples T Test was performed to analyze differences intragroup and among groups with p<0.05 considered significantly different.

From the reconstructed 3D vasculature map, medullary veins dilation was observed at different degrees for all the neonates, with 4 preterm in micro-bleeding. The R2* values at the micro-bleeding regions were significantly higher than other ROIs. Compared with the white matter of frontal lobe and centrum semiovale, thalamus had a slightly higher R2* values in all neonates, however with significant difference (p<0.05). The CBF maps revealed hyperperfusion in gray matter of frontal lobe and thalamus, while hypoperfusion in white matter of frontal lobe and parietal gray matter. For the term neonates, the CBF values of thalamus were significantly higher than white matter and parietal gray matter. In preterm group, the CBF values of thalamus were significant higher than that of white matter and parietal gray matter (P<0.05). [What is the difference between the term and preterm]No significant difference of the R2* and CBF values was observed between the term and preterm infants in all the ROIs (p>0.05). 

On neonatal encephalopathy, the R2* and CBF values exhibited different manners at different cerebral locations, partially reflecting the physiopathological features of local brain tissues.

The combination of SWI and 3DASL, with R2* and CBF mappings obtained, showed more details in evaluation of neonatal brain with/without diseases.

Liu, Y, Zhang, H, Wang, Q, Zhang, Z, Wang, Z, Wang, M, Added Value of a Combination of Susceptibility Weighted Imaging (SWI) and 3D Arterial Spin-labeling (ASL) in Diagnosis and Prognosis of Neonatal Encephalopathy.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14045617.html