Neuroimaging for Neurodevelopmental Prognostication in High-Risk Neonates

Abstract

Predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes in high-risk neonates remains challenging despite advances in neonatal care. Early and accurate characterization of infants at risk for neurodevelopmental delays is necessary to best identify those who may benefit from existing early interventions and novel therapies that become available. Although neuroimaging is a promising biomarker in the prediction of neurodevelopmental outcomes in high-risk infants, it requires additional resources and expertise. Despite many advances in neonatal neuroimaging, there remain limitations in relating early neuroimaging findings with long-term outcomes; further studies are necessary to determine the optimal protocols to best identify high-risk patients and improve neurodevelopmental outcome prediction.

Keywords: Brain injury; Cranial ultrasound; Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy; Magnetic resonance imaging; Neonate; Neurodevelopmental outcome; Prematurity-related brain injury.