Abstract: Objective To explore the relationship between MRI signal intensity in pallidum and levels of total bilirubin in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Methods From July, 2014 to October, 2015, sixty neonates were divided into three groups according to the levels of total serum bilirubin (TSB), that were group I (TSB 17.1~34.2 μmol/L, n=16), group II (TSB >34.2~340 μmol/L, n=34), and group III (TSB > 340 μmol/L, n=10). They were screened with 3.0 T MRI, and the T1WI signal intensity of bilateral pallidum was measured. Results The bilateral signal intensity was higher in group III than in group II and group I. There was positive correlation between signal intensity and TSB levels. Conclusion The MRI signal intensity in pallidum may help for diagnosis of neonatal bilirubin encephalopathy.

Key words: neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, pallidum, superconducting magnetic resonance imaging, signal intensity