Magnetic Resonance Imaging Abnormalities in Advanced Acute Bilirubin Encephalopathy Highlight Dentato-Thalamo-Cortical Pathways

Jessica L Wisnowski; Ashok Panigrahy; Michael J Painter; Jon F Watchko

doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.03.065

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Abnormalities in Advanced Acute Bilirubin Encephalopathy Highlight Dentato-Thalamo-Cortical Pathways

J Pediatr. 2016 Jul:174:260-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.03.065. Epub 2016 Apr 22.

Authors

Jessica L Wisnowski¹, Ashok Panigrahy², Michael J Painter³, Jon F Watchko⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatric Radiology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.
² Department of Pediatric Radiology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA.
³ Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA.
⁴ Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA. Electronic address: jwatchko@mail.magee.edu.

PMID: 27113379
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.03.065

Abstract

A distinct pattern of acute restricted diffusion on magnetic resonance imaging localized to key regions within the dentato-thalamo-cortical pathway was observed early in a term newborn during advanced stages of acute bilirubin encephalopathy. These findings demonstrate that vulnerability to bilirubin toxicity extends across specific neuroanatomic tracts.

Keywords: Rh hemolytic disease; apparent diffusion coefficient; cerebellum; diffusion weighted imaging; hyperbilirubinemia; kernicterus.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Kernicterus / diagnostic imaging*
Kernicterus / etiology*
Kernicterus / therapy
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy