MRI in paediatric hypoxic–ischemic disease, metabolic disorders and malformations—A review

MRI has become the most important modality in paediatric neuroimaging. It provides an excellent anatomical overview with good spatial and temporal resolution, allows investigations of the blood vessels, and – using technologies such as diffusion-weighted imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy – it allows quick and exact differentiation of ischemic, hypoxic, inflammatory, oncologic, traumatic and metabolic diseases. This review presents an overview of brain MRI in infants and children with suspected hypoxic–ischemic disease, metabolic disorders or (vascular) malformations, illustrating these issues by some MRI findings in selected important conditions and discussing some major clinical and pathophysiological aspects important for imaging.