Chen S, et al. - A total of 30 full-term neonates with mild hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) were recruited and 12 normal neonates underwent conventional MRI and amide proton transfer (APT) imaging in order to assess the APT values in neonates with mild HIE using APT imaging. In 30 neonates with mild HIE, normal conventional MRI was noted in 10% of the HIE cases. Between the two groups, notable variations in APT values of the HIE group in bilateral caudate, bilateral thalamus, bilateral centrum semiovale and left globus pallidus/putamen were noted, and no statistical variation was seen in right globus pallidus/putamen and brainstem. Moreover, in bilateral caudate, bilateral globus pallidus/putamen, bilateral thalamus, and brainstem regions APT values showed positive linear relationships with gestational age in the control group, except for bilateral centrum semiovale. In the mild HIE groups, no meaningful relationship with gestational age was discovered across all regions. Hence, APT imaging was concluded as a feasible and beneficial procedure with diagnostic capacity for neonatal HIE.