Neuroimaging of neonatal brain post therapeutic hypothermia: a practical guide to the non-pediatric neuroradiologist

Therapeutic hypothermia is currently considered the standard treatment for neonates diagnosed with moderate or severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy in high-resource settings, improving survival rates and reducing long-term disability. Consequently, this treatment is increasingly performed in non-pediatric hospitals with intensive neonatal care units. Magnetic resonance imaging plays a fundamental role in assessing the extent of brain injury and represents a key prognostic tool in these patients who present to the neuroradiologist with critical care condition. As the current literature on this topic is flourishing, in this study, we aim to provide a practical guide to the non-pediatric neuroradiologist by summarizing protocols, characteristic radiological findings, and recommendations for ensuring optimal imaging timing by revising published studies.