Head Ultrasound and MR imaging in the evaluation of neonatal encephalopathy: competitive or complementary imaging studies?

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is superior to ultrasonography (US) for the evaluation and prognostication of neonates with neonatal encephalopathy (NE). Nonetheless, US may provide important information early in the course of NE and can be used to document the evolution of lesions. This article provides an overview of useful findings in the US evaluation of infants with NE. Although many of the findings do not appear as conspicuous or as extensively as they do on MR imaging, recognition and familiarity with subtle head US abnormalities may allow head US to play an important complementary role to MR imaging in the evaluation of infants with NE.