Magnetic resonance imaging findings in patients with severe neonatal indirect hyperbilirubinemia

The aim of thus study was to document the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of cases with a history of severe neonatal indirect hyperbilirubin emia. Ten cases (eight cases with neurologic findings, two normal cases) wi th a history of severe neonatal indirect hyperbilirubinemia were studied. N eurologic findings and MRI results were described and correlated. Seven of eight cases with neurologic findings demonstrated symmetric and uniform inc reased Tl signal changes limited to globus pallidi. MRI scans of two cases without neurologic findings showed no abnormality. Severe neonatal indirect hyperbilirubinemia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of b ilateral symmetric hyperintense signal changes in the globus pallidus on MR I. However, high levels of unconjugated bilirubin concentrations in the neo natal period may not always cause such lesions of globus pallidus on MRI de spite the presence of neurologic findings.