REVIEW

Magnetic resonance imaging of preterm brain injury

S J Counsell¹, M A Rutherford¹, F M Cowan², A D Edwards²

¹ Robert Steiner Magnetic Resonance Unit, Imaging Sciences Department, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre
² Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, Hammersmith Campus, DuCane Road, London, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor A D Edwards, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, Hammersmith Campus, DuCane Road, London W12 OHS, UK;
david.edwards{at}ic.ac.uk

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has proved to be a valuable tool for monitoring development and pathology in the preterm brain. This imaging modality is useful for assessing numerous pathologies including periventricular leukomalacia, intraventricular haemorrhage/germinal layer haemorrhage, and periventricular haemorrhagic infarction, and can help to predict outcome in these infants. MRI has also allowed the detection of posterior fossa lesions, which are not easily seen with ultrasound. Additionally, and perhaps most relevant, quantitative MR studies have shown differences between the normal appearing preterm brain at term equivalent age and term born infants, confirming that the brain develops differently in the ex utero environment. Further studies using quantifiable MR techniques will improve our understanding of the effects of the ex utero environment, including aspects of neonatal intensive care on the developing brain.

Keywords: magnetic resonance imaging; preterm brain injury

Abbreviations: ADC, apparent diffusion coefficient; CSE, conventional spin echo; DEHSI, diffuse excessive high signal intensity; DWI, diffusion weighted imaging; FSE, fast spin echo; GA, gestational age; GLH, germinal layer haemorrhage; IVH, intraventricular haemorrhage; MR, magnetic resonance; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; PHI, periventricular haemorrhagic infarction; PVL, periventricular leukomalacia; 3D, three dimensional

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Article

Fantoms

Martin Ward Platt
Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2003 88: F260. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Nagae, L.M., Hoon, A.H. Jr., Stashinko, E., Lin, D., Zhang, W., Levey, E., Wakana, S., Jiang, H., Leite, C.C., Lucato, L.T., van Zijl, P.C.M., Johnston, M.V., Mori, S. (2007). Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Children with Periventricular Leukomalacia: Variability of Injuries to White Matter Tracts. Am. J. Neuroradiol. 28: 1213-1222 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Loeliger, M., Inder, T., Cain, S., Ramesh, R. C., Camm, E., Thomson, M. A., Coalson, J., Rees, S. M. (2006). Cerebral Outcomes in a Preterm Baboon Model of Early Versus Delayed Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. Pediatrics 118: 1640-1653 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Florio, P., Marinoni, E., Di Iorio, R., Bashir, M., Ciotti, S., Sacchi, R., Bruschettini, M., Lituania, M., Serra, G., Michetti, F., Petraglia, F., Gazzolo, D. (2006). Urinary S100B Protein Concentrations Are Increased in Intrauterine Growth-Retarded Newborns. Pediatrics 118: e747-e754 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Williams, H J (2004). Imaging the child with developmental delay. Imaging 16: 174-185 [Abstract] [Full Text]