Cerebral MRI of Preterm Neonates at Term Equivalent Age at 3 Tesla: Hints at White Matter Damage on T2-and Diffusion Weighted Images

Background: MRI of the brain is reported to be very sensitive in the detection of diffuse white matter damage in preterm neonates. Aim: To review 3 Tesla-MRI studies of 21 preterm neonates at term equivalent age with regard to safety and detection of white matter changes. Patients: In 21 preterm neonates (9 female, 12 male, mean age 96 days) an MRI of the brain was performed for clinical reasons with oral sedation. All examinations could be performed at 3 Tesla without any complication. In 7 of 21 noncystic periventricular white matter lesions could be found and in 14 hyperintensity of white matter (DEHSI) was observed. ADC-values of the white matter were considerably higher than reported for healthy children in literature. Conclusion: MRI at 3 Tesla can be performed safely in oral sedation at term equivalent age at 3 Testa. T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted imaging is very sensitive for white matter changes.