Brain MRI in global hypoxia-ischemia: a map of selective vulnerability.

Hypoxic-ischemic injury to the brain is a devastating occurrence that frequently results in death or profound long-term neurologic disability. In this report, we describe the neuroradiological findings of a patient suffering from a global brain hypoxic-ischemic injury. Our findings clearly display that the areas of the brain with the highest metabolic activity, such as basal ganglia, thalami, and occipital and perirolandic cortex, are most susceptible to hypoxic injury. The MRI images delineate a map of the brain areas with selective vulnerability to hypoxia.