PROGRESSIVE BRAIN FAILURE AFTER DIFFUSE HYPOXIC-ISCHEMIC BRAIN INJURY- A SERIAL MR AND PROTON MR SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY

The findings at sequential MR imaging and proton MR spectroscopy of a patient with profound hypoxic-ischemic brain injury are reported. The pattern of structural and biochemical changes observed closely reflect ed the known evolution of postasphyxic brain degeneration, Particularl y noteworthy were the sharp decrease of cortical N-acetylaspartate in the acute phase, suggesting the severity of the neuronal insult, and t he subsequent progressive increase of choline, paralleling the delayed degeneration of white matter.