[Imaging of neonatal neurological disorders]

Neonatal brain disorders consist of a wide chapter including brain malformations, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, intracranial infections, perinatal trauma and metabolic encephalopathies. The aim of this review paper is to describe the main imaging modalities (ultrasonography, CT, MRI) that are used extensively for the diagnosis of neonatal brain disorders, with their respective advantages and limitations, to illustrate and describe the main brain lesions encountered in the neonatal period, particularly with MRI since its role has increased over the recent years. We will focus on hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, materno-fetal infections, metabolic encephalopathies and stroke, those four conditions being the most frequent so far. Imaging modalities, especially MRI, by showing the extent of brain damage, are part of the prognostic factors in cases of infective causes and of hypoxic-ischemic origin. MRI is also very efficient in showing brain damage as atrophy and white matter abnormalities suggestive of an underlying abnormal brain of metabolic origin.