Abstract: Objective To study the characteristic findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) induced by chronic kernicterus.Methods The MR imagings in 13 CP cases induced by chronic kernicterus were retrospectively studied, which were compared with 6 healthy and age-matched controls. 13 cases were finally diagnosed as dyskinetic cerebral palsy (athetoid subtype).Results In 13 cases, all showed symmetric high signals in the the globus pallidus on T2-weighted imaging. There were not apparent abnormality on T1-weighted imaging.Conclusion The bilateral high intensity signals in the globus pallidus on T2-weighted imaging are the characteristic findings on MRI in CP children induced by chronic kernicterus. Paying attention to the globus pallidus on MRI may be useful in determining the type of cerebral palsy.

Key words: magnetic resonance imaging, cerebral palsy, kernicterus