MRI of kernicterus

We report six cases of kernicterus examined by MRI. All showed symmetrical high-signal lesions in the globus pallidus bilaterally on long TR images. Two showed high-signal lesions in the subthalamic nuclei and in the corticospinal tracts of the midbrain. Three revealed dilatation of both lateral ventricles, reflecting atrophy of the hippocampus. The lesions described correspond to the pathological reports of kernicterus, that is, icteric discoloration, atrophy with loss of nerve cells and glial scarring in the globus pallidus, subthalamic nuclei and Ammon’s horn of the hippocampus.