Abstract OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to characterize the clinical presentations and magnetic resonance imaging including conventional MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in newborns with cerebral infarction. METHODS: Clinical records of 16 newborn infants with cerebral infarction were reviewed. All cases underwent DWI examination in addition to conventional MRI examination ［T1-weighted (T1W) and T2-weighted (T2W)］within 5 days after birth. Five patients received the second MRI examination at the age of 11 to 18 days. RESULTS: Eight patients had antenatal risk factors, 9 had intranatal risk factors, and no postnatal risk factors were found. Seizures as the first symptom were noted in 11 neonates, with a short duration and a low frequency. The first imaging examination (within 5 days) showed a slight hypointensity on T1W, a slight hyperintensity on T2W and significantly increased signal intensity with a clear boundary on DWI in the lesions. In the MRI re-examination, more obvious hypointensity on T1W and hyperintensity on T2W were noted, while hypointensity was shown on DWI in the lesions compared with the first imaging results. CONCLUSIONS: Seizures characterized by short duration and low frequency usually may be the first symptom in newborns with cerebral infarction. A hyperintensity on DWI was shown in the lesions at the early stage of neonatal cerebral infarction. A hypointensity on T1W and a hyperintensity on T2W were demonstrated in the lesions with increasing disease duration.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2009, 11 (2):96-99］
HUANG Wan-Jie,XUE Xin-Dong,GUO Jing et al. Early clinical presentations and MRI characteristics in newborns with cerebral infarction[J]. 中国当代儿科杂志, 2009, 11(02): 96-99.
HUANG Wan-Jie,XUE Xin-Dong,GUO Jing et al. Early clinical presentations and MRI characteristics in newborns with cerebral infarction[J]. CJCP, 2009, 11(02): 96-99.
［1］Lynch JK, Hirtz DG, DeVeber G, Nelson KB. Report of the national institute of neurological disorders and stroke workshop on perinatal and childhood stroke［J］．Pediatrics, 2002, 109(1)：116-123．
［2］Laugesaar R, Kolk A, Tomberg T, Metsvaht T, Lintrop M, Varendi H, et al．Acutely and retrospectively diagnosed perinatal stroke：a populationbased study［J］．Stroke, 2007, 38(8)：2234-2240．
［3］Benders MJ, Groenendaal F, Uiterwaal CS, Nikkels PG, Bruinse HW, Nievelstein RA, et al．Maternal and infant characteristics associated with perinatal arterial stroke in the preterm infant［J］．Stroke, 2007, 38(6)：1759-1765．
［4］Lee J, Croen LA, Backstrand KH, Yoshida CK, Henning LH, Lindan C, et al．Maternal and infant characteristics associated with perinatal arterial stroke in the infant［J］．JAMA, 2005, 293(6)：723-729．
［6］Sreenan C, Bhargava R, Robertson CM．Cerebral infarction in the term newborn: clinical presentation and long-term outcome［J］．J Pediatr, 2000, 137(3)：351-355．
［7］Nelson KB. Perinatal ischemic stroke［J］. Stroke, 2007, 38(2 Suppl): 742-745.
［8］Brenner D, Elliston C, Hall E, Berdon W．Estimated risks of radiation-induced fatal cancer from pediatric CT［J］．AJR Am J Roentgenol, 2001, 176(2)：289-296．
［9］Johnson AJ, Lee BC, Lin W．Echoplanar diffusion-weighted imaging in neonates and infants with suspected hypoxic-ischemic injury：correlation with patient outcome［J］．AJR Am J Roentgenol, 1999, 172(1)：219-226．
［10］Mader I, Schoning M, Klose U, Küker W．Neonatal cerebral infarction diagnosed by diffusion-weighted MRI：pseudonormalization occurs early［J］．Stroke, 2002, 33( 4)：1142-1145．
［11］Küker W, Mhrle S, Mader I．MRI for the management of neonatal cerebral infarctions：importance of timing［J］．Childs Nerv Syst, 2004, 20(10):742-748．
［12］Beauchamp NJ Jr, Barker PB, Wang PY, vanZijl PC．Imaging of acute cerebral ischemia［J］．Radiology, 1999, 212(2)：307-324.
