Value of susceptibility-weighted imaging for diagnosing intracranial hemorrhage in neonates according to anatomic location

Introduction Intracranial hemorrhage is common in neonates, especially in preterm neonates. Different types of hemorrhage have been diagnosed in neonates including germinal matrix hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage, intraparenchymal hemorrhage, venous lesions or extra-axial hemorrhage with various etiologies such as asphyxia, premature delivery and assisted vaginal delivery. Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is a technique that is highly sensitive for the visualization of substances with a magnetic susceptibility different from brain tissue such as blood, iron, calcification and air [1,2]. Despite recent increasing recognition of the clinical utilities of SWI, the role in neonates has not been well established. The purpose of this study was to assess the additional value of SWI for detecting hemorrhage in neonates according to anatomic location.