Imaging of neonatal brain emergencies: Multisequence MRI analysis of pathologic spectrum including diffusion and MR spectroscopy

The purpose of this pictorial essay is to review the normal neonatal brain MR anatomy and the MR imaging appearances of neonatal brain emergencies and discuss the advantages of individual MR imaging sequences and the clinical implications of utilizing MRI as a problem-solving modality in the neonatal intensive care unit. Here we briefly discuss the normal MR imaging anatomy and myelination pattern and normal MR spectroscopy findings in a neonate. The role of individual MR imaging sequences in evaluating various neonatal abnormalities is being emphasized. For example, the utility of diffusion-weighted imaging for the diagnosis of profound hypoxic-ischemic injury and other forms of hypoxic- ischemic encephalopathies and MR spectroscopy in the diagnosis of metabolic encephalopathies and genetic disorders including aminoacidurias is being presented.