Subpial Hemorrhage in Neonates: What Radiologists Need to Know

OBJECTIVE. Subpial hemorrhages, typically seen in neonates, are rare but can harm the adjacent brain parenchyma. The purpose of this review is to summarize the anatomy and pathophysiology of subpial hemorrhage and highlight its characteristic neuro-imaging pattern. CONCLUSION. The distinctive neuroimaging pattern of subpial hemorrhage is best appreciated on brain MRI, which shows the morphology over the cortex and injury to adjacent cortex and subcortical white matter. These findings do not occur in subarachnoid and subdural hemorrhages. Recognizing the pattern of subpial hemorrhages should guide prognostic precision, prognostication, and counseling.