When conducted using appropriately chosen research designs and statistical techniques and if confounding variables are sufficiently controlled, a neuropsychometric battery that includes capacities that relate to intelligence (Bannatyne categories) and those that relate to neurocognitive processes (neuropsychological tests) can be useful in the differential diagnosis of SLD.

Aim:The aim of the study was to compare the conventional brain MR imaging and diffusion-weighted MR imaging performed during the first 48 postnatal hours in their relevance to predict the long-term neurodevelopmental outcome in patients with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy Sarnat Stage II. Material and Method: Medical records of 69 patients with HIE between January 2006 and January 2010 were studied retrospectively. Twentyone patients whose data were consistent with Sarnat Stage II and for whom conventional MRI and diffusion-weighted MRI had been performed in the first 48 postnatal hours were included the study. Neurodevelopmental assessment of these patients was based on Ankara Developmental Screening Inventory (AGTE-GG). Patients whose overall developmental age was 30% below, within the 20-30% range and above 20% the chronologic age were classified as poor, moderate and good prognosis, respectively. Results: Based on the results of the AGTE-GG, 11 (52.3%) out of 21 patients included in the study had good and 10 (47.7%) had poor prognoses. In terms of the predictivity for long-term prognosis, the conventional brain MRI had an OR value of 6.22 (0.94-41.3), while the same value for the diffusionweighted MRI was 4.8 (0.68-33.9). The positive predictivity, negative predictivity, sensitivity and specificity of the conventional brain MRI were 61.5, 75, 80 and 54%, respectively, whilst the same values for the diffusion MRI were 70, 72.7, 70 and 72.7%, respectively. Conclusions: No statistically significant difference was noted between the two imaging methods in terms of the predictive value for long-term neurologic prognosis (p>0.05). The present study showed that both the conventional brain MRI and diffusion MRI may be used for long-term neurologic prognosis in patients with stage II HIE, with neither of the methods being superior to the other. (Turk Arch Ped 2011; 46: 283-6)