Application of a 3D pseudocontinuous arterial spin-labeled perfusion MRI scan combined with a postlabeling delay value in the diagnosis of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

BACKGROUND: Currently, there are many studies on the application of the 3D pseudocontinuous arterial spin-labeled (3D-pcASL) perfusion MRI technique for adult brain examinations, but few studies exist on the application of the technique for child brain examinations. PURPOSE: To explore the application of a 3D-pcASL perfusion MRI scan combined with postlabeling delay (PLD) for assessing neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two-hundred neonates diagnosed with neonatal HIE were equally divided into five groups (40/group): 0- to <24-hour-old HIE group, 1- to <3-day-old HIE group, 3- to <7-day-old HIE group, 7- to <15-day-old HIE group and 15- to 28-day-old HIE group; 200 healthy neonates were equivalently divided. All 10 groups received a conventional and a 3D-pcASL perfusion MRI scan. For groups <3 days old, PLD values for the 3D-pcASL cerebral perfusion MRI scan were preset at 1025 ms; in all other groups, PLD values were preset at 1525 ms. CBF values for the 3D-pcASL cerebral perfusion MRI were compared between the HIE and corresponding control groups to determine the distinguishing characteristics of CBF values in HIE neonates. RESULTS: On the 3D-pcASL cerebral perfusion MRI scan, in the 1- to <3-day-old groups, HIE neonate CBF values were higher than those of controls in all brain regions (excluding the frontal lobe); in the 0- to <24-hour-old and 3- to <7-day-old groups, HIE neonate CBF values were lower than those of corresponding controls in all brain regions; in the 7- to <15-day-old and 15- to 28-day-old groups, there were no significant differences in the CBF values between groups in any brain regions. CONCLUSIONS: The 3D-pcASL perfusion MRI scan combined with a PLD can assist in the early diagnosis of neonatal HIE, as this method more comprehensively reflects the HIE pathological process.