ROLE OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING IN ASSESSMENT OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS IN THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD – AN OBSERVATIONAL DESCRIPTIVE STUDY

Objectives: To evaluate the role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in detecting and characterizing neurological complications in postpartum women presenting with neurological symptoms and to assess the association of these findings with obstetric conditions such as preeclampsia. Materials and Methods: An observational descriptive study was conducted over 30 months (November 2022–April 2025) at a tertiary care hospital. Forty postpartum women within six weeks of delivery presenting with neurological symptoms were included. MRI brain was performed using a 3 Tesla Siemens Magnetom Vida scanner. Clinical profiles, imaging findings, and associations with comorbidities were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. The most common presenting symptoms were seizures (22. Result: 5%) and headache (17.5%). Abnormal MRI findings were observed in 42.5% of patients, with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) being the most frequent diagnosis (25%), followed by cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) (7.5%) and acute lacunar infarcts (7.5%). Preeclampsia (22.5%) showed a statistically significant correlation with abnormal MRI findings (p = 0.049). MRI is a highly effectiv Conclusion: e, non-invasive modality for evaluating neurological complications in postpartum women. PRES and CVST were the most common abnormalities, often associated with preeclampsia. Early MRI evaluation facilitates prompt diagnosis and management, improving maternal outcomes.