Abstract
BACKGROUND: Neonates with a history of perinatal hypoxia often require meticulous neuroimaging to detect brain injuries promptly. This study investigates the utility of 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in assessing neonates with perinatal hypoxia and compares it with the conventional 128-slice NCCT imaging modality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted, encompassing 67 cases over 1 year from October 2022 to October 2023. We assessed the performance of 3T MRI using the Achieva 3T TX MRI scanner (Philips, The Netherlands) and compared it to the 128-slice GE 660 Optima CT scan. RESULTS: We found that 3T MRI demonstrated remarkable sensitivity in detecting brain injuries in this population. Notably, it excelled in identifying subtle lesions, with white matter changes observed in 76.1% of cases, corpus callosum thinning in 64.2%, restriction of diffusion on DWI in 28.4%, signal loss on GRE in 14.9%, and cerebral venous thrombosis in 9% of the study participants. CONCLUSION: The integration of 3T MRI into neonatal neuroimaging protocols is crucial. It offers enhanced diagnostic accuracy and safety, supporting its inclusion as a fundamental component in neonatal care.