Background Previous studies in 10-year-old children have shown an association between size of the corpus callosum and neurodevelopmental outcome.

Aim In the present study we examined whether diffusion changes in the corpus callosum shortly after birth are associated with outcome in full-term infants with perinatal asphyxia.

Subjects/methods From 2002 to 2013, 127 full-term infants with perinatal asphyxia were examined using diffusion weighted MRI within 7 days after birth (median 4 days; IQR 2 days). To calculate ADC values, regions of interest were manually selected in the anterior and posterior part of the corpus callosum, and ADC values were related to outcome. Adverse outcome was defined as death (n = 33), cerebral palsy or delayed development at 18 moths (Griffiths DQ <85): n = 12. Sixty-nine of the infants (54.3%) received therapeutic hypothermia.

Results ADC values (10^-6 mm²/s) showed anterior-to-posterior differences, and values were analysed separately. ADC values are presented in the table.

Differences between groups were significant (ANOVA p < 0.001).

Conclusions Low ADC values during the first 7 days after birth, in particular of the posterior part of the corpus callosum, are associated with an adverse outcome in asphyxiated term neonates.