Dr. Manuel Hinojosa Rodríguez, INB-UNAM
Título: From Neuropathology to Neuroimaging and Vice Versa: Current Needs and Challenges in Clinical Neonatal Neuroimaging.
Resumen: Infants and children with a history of preterm birth and with perinatal risk factors for brain injury may exhibit structural brain abnormalities – such as white and grey matter lesions – that affect motor and/or cognitive functions. Brain research studies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) report that 50% to 80% of extremely and very preterm neonates have diffuse white matter abnormalities which have been associated with alterations in motor and cognitive development. However, MRI identifications of diffuse patterns or mild-to-moderate abnormalities in neonates are still challenging and not often detected in clinical practice. This is due to the fact that MRI currently used in clinical environments does not allow the objective detection or differentiation of the most subtle and frequent neuropathological patterns. Clear and comprehensive correlations between qualitative / quantitative neuroimaging and the neuropathological spectrum of surviving premature infants are needed. This emerging need has led the scientific community to try to close the gap between concepts or ideas from different methodologies and approaches; for instance, neuropathology, neuroimaging and clinical findings.