# Neuroimaging of neonatal brain post therapeutic hypothermia: a practical guide to the non-pediatric neuroradiologist

**Authors:** Martina Di Stasi, Angela Plantulli, Felicia Filomena Varsalone, Gianpiero Locatelli, Chiara Paolella, Giulia Frauenfelder, Margherita Di Stasi, Francesco Taglialatela, Maria Grazia Corbo, Daniele Giuseppe Romano

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fradi.2026.1722473 · Frontiers in Radiology · 2026-02-17

## TL;DR

This paper provides a practical guide for non-pediatric neuroradiologists on interpreting MRI scans of neonates after therapeutic hypothermia treatment.

## Contribution

The study offers a concise summary of imaging protocols and findings specific to neonatal brain injury post-hypothermia.

## Key findings

- MRI is essential for assessing brain injury in neonates after hypothermia treatment.
- Published studies were reviewed to guide optimal imaging timing and interpretation.
- Recommendations are provided to help non-pediatric neuroradiologists manage these cases effectively.

## Abstract

Therapeutic hypothermia is currently considered the standard treatment for neonates diagnosed with moderate or severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy in high-resource settings, improving survival rates and reducing long-term disability. Consequently, this treatment is increasingly performed in non-pediatric hospitals with intensive neonatal care units. Magnetic resonance imaging plays a fundamental role in assessing the extent of brain injury and represents a key prognostic tool in these patients who present to the neuroradiologist with critical care condition. As the current literature on this topic is flourishing, in this study, we aim to provide a practical guide to the non-pediatric neuroradiologist by summarizing protocols, characteristic radiological findings, and recommendations for ensuring optimal imaging timing by revising published studies.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (MONDO:0006663)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** calcifications (MESH:D002114), ischemic (MESH:D002545), neurotoxicity (MESH:D020258), atrophy (MESH:D001284), edema (MESH:D004487), cerebral palsy (MESH:D002547), cerebral damage (MESH:D002539), inflammation (MESH:D007249), renal or hepatic impairment (MESH:D008107), injury (MESH:D014947), Glutaric aciduria (MESH:C536833), congenital malformations (OMIM:163000), cerebellar injury (MESH:D002526), seizures (MESH:D012640), metabolic disorders (MESH:D008659), maternal hypotension (MESH:D007022), ischemia (MESH:D007511), hypoxia (MESH:D000860), Neurometabolic disorders (MESH:D009358), hemorrhages (MESH:D006470), hypoxic (MESH:D002534), white matter (MESH:D056784), Vasogenic edema (MESH:D001929), intracranial hemorrhage (MESH:D020300), Maple syrup urine disease (MESH:D008375), stroke (MESH:D020521), base (MESH:D019292), ischemic stroke (MESH:D002544), hypoglycemia (MESH:D007003), asphyxia (MESH:D001237), non-ketotic hyperglycinemia (MESH:D020158), cytotoxic (MESH:D064420), venous thrombosis (MESH:D020246), sinovenous thrombosis (MESH:D013927), abnormalities (MESH:D000014), oxidase (MESH:C537806), Urea cycle disorders (MESH:D056806), TH (MESH:D007035), brain damage (MESH:D001925), death (MESH:D003643), encephalopathy (MESH:D001927), brain injury (MESH:D001930), cerebral injury (MESH:D000070625), HIE (MESH:D020925), necrosis (MESH:D009336), DWI abnormalities (MESH:C564543), pre-Wallerian degeneration (MESH:D014855), chorioamnionitis (MESH:D002821), memory dysfunction (MESH:D008569), sepsis (MESH:D018805), disability (MESH:D009069), PAIS (MESH:D020243), motor, cognitive, or learning difficulties (MESH:D003072), neurodevelopmental impairment (MESH:D009422), neonatal encephalopathy (MESH:D007232), macrocephaly (MESH:D058627), intracranial hypertension (MESH:D019586), cortical abnormalities (MESH:D054220), neonatal cerebral injury (MESH:D007969)
- **Chemicals:** choline (MESH:D002794), lactate (MESH:D019344), oxygen (MESH:D010100), midazolam (MESH:D008874), glutamate (MESH:D018698), glutaric acid (MESH:C035736), excitatory amino acids (MESH:D018846), nitric oxide (MESH:D009569), water (MESH:D014867), N-acetyl-aspartate (MESH:C000179), dexmedetomidine (MESH:D020927), DOL (-), sodium (MESH:D012964), H (MESH:D006859), molybdenum (MESH:D008982), calcium (MESH:D002118), ATP (MESH:D000255)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]
- **Mutations:** glutamine/glutamate, C-34  C

## Full text

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## Figures

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## References

86 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12953461/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12953461