OBJECTIVE: To relate volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings to 
hypothermia therapy and neurosensory impairments.
STUDY DESIGN: Newborns > or =36 weeks' gestation with hypoxic-ischemic 
encephalopathy who participated in the National Institute of Child Health and 
Human Development hypothermia randomized trial at our center were eligible. We 
determined the relationship between hypothermia treatment and usual care 
(control) to absolute and relative cerebral tissue volumes. Furthermore, we 
correlated brain volumes with death or neurosensory impairments at 18 to 22 
months.
RESULT: Both treatment groups were comparable before randomization. Total brain 
tissue volumes did not differ in relation to treatment assignment. However, 
relative volumes of subcortical white matter were significantly larger in 
hypothermia-treated than control infants. Furthermore, relative total brain 
volumes correlated significantly with death or neurosensory impairments. 
Relative volumes of the cortical gray and subcortical white matter also 
correlated significantly with Bayley Scales psychomotor development index.
CONCLUSION: Selected volumetric MRI findings correlated with hypothermia therapy 
and neurosensory impairments. Larger studies using MRI brain volumes as a 
secondary outcome measure are needed.