Diagnostic and prognostic value of CT brain scan in term neonates with moderate and severe birth asphyxia.

Twenty term neonates with moderate (stage II) and 5 with severe (stage III) hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) were prospectively studied to determine diagnostic and prognostic value of CT brain scan. Three neonates expired, 4 were lost to follow up while 18 were followed up to 18 months of age. Cerebral hypodensities were noted in 20 and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in 8, of which 6 had both ICH and hypodensity. Twelve of 14 infants with hypodensities and 5 of 6 with ICH who were followed up were handicapped at 18 months. Thirteen of 18 babies followed up were subjected to repeat CT scans between 9 and 18 months of age for assessing extent and severity of brain damage. Major abnormality noted on repeat CT scans was cerebral atrophy. All 6 infants whose follow-up scans were abnormal had neurological sequelae, while of 7 infants who had normal repeat CT scans, 5 had neurological sequelae. We do not recommend repeat CT scans in patients with HIE as a parameter to predict neurologic outcome.