MRI is the imaging modality of choice for the diagnosis and follow-up of infants with moderate to severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. This study was undertaken to evaluate the various MRI patterns of term hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and to correlate the MRI appearances with clinical outcome. It was also undertaken to compare wherever possible, the neurosonogrpahic appearances with the MRI findings. Differences in the patterns of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy are likely to result from severity of birth asphyxia. MRI is non-invasive and has no radiation hazards associated with it .The excellent gray – white matter resolution and multiplanar imaging capabilities provide an advantage to MRI over other modalities. The addition of DWI improves the diagnostic capacities of MRI .There is a strong relation between the MRI appearances of birth asphyxia and the clinical outcome. Therefore MRI has a strong role in prognosticating lesions.
