CT FINDINGS IN NEONATAL HYPOTHERMIA

Background Newborn infants are particularly prone to hypothermia, a co ndition with a high mortality. Objective. To study the CT brain patter ns in infants with hypothermia and neurological symptoms. Materials an d methods. We reviewed the brain CT of nine infants with neonatal hypo thermia, multiple organ failure, seizures and coma. Results. Two infan ts had normal CT scans, acutely and at follow-up, and were clinically normal at follow-up. In seven infants, CT showed diffuse cerebral oede ma, with reversal of the normal density relationship between grey and white matter and a relative increased density of the thalami, brainste m and cerebellum the 'reversal sign'. In six surviving infants with se vere developmental delay, follow-up CT revealed cerebral atrophy with multicystic encephalomalacia. Conclusions. The 'reversal sign' has bee n described in the abused child, birth asphyxia and anoxia due to drow ning. Neonatal hypothermia is offered as a further cause.