Do Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Measurements Predict Outcome in Children with Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) permits early detection and quantification of hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain lesions. Our aim was to assess the predictive value of DWI and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements for outcome in children with perinatal asphyxia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Term neonates underwent MR imaging within 10 days after birth because of asphyxia. MR imaging examinations were retrospectively evaluated for HI brain damage. ADC was measured in 30 standardized brain regions and in visibly abnormal areas on DWI. In survivors, developmental outcome until early school age was graded into the following categories: 1) normal, 2) mildly abnormal, and 3) definitely abnormal. For analysis, category 3 and death (category 4) were labeled adverse, 1 and 2 were favorable, and 2-3 and death were abnormal outcome. Differences in outcome between infants with and without DWI abnormalities were analyzed by using X(2) tests. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test analyzed whether ADC values in visible DWI abnormalities correlated with age at imaging. Logistic regression analysis tested the predictive value for outcome of the ADC in each standardized brain region. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to find optimal ADC cutoff values for each region for the various outcome scores. RESULTS: Twenty-four infants (13 male) were included. Mean age at MR imaging was 4.3 days (range, 1-9 days), Seven infants died. There was no difference in outcome between infants with and without visible DWI abnormalities. Only ADC of the posterior limb of the internal capsule correlated with age. ADC in visibly abnormal DWI regions did not have a predictive value for outcome. Of all measurements performed, only the ADC in the normal-appearing basal ganglia and brain stem correlated significantly with outcome; low ADC values were associated with abnormal/adverse outcome, and higher ADC values, with normal/favorable outcome (basal ganglia: P = .03 for abnormal, P = .01 for adverse outcome; brain stem: P = .006 for abnormal, P = .03 for adverse outcome). CONCLUSIONS: ADC values in normal-appearing basal ganglia and brain stem correlated with outcome, independently of all MR imaging findings including those of DWI. ADC values invisibly abnormal brain tissue on DWI did not show a predictive value for outcome.