Abstract

Background: Current ultrasound technology allows for evaluation of neonates and infants in the intensive care nursery with virtually no risk. Noninvasive, rapid evaluation of brain in the neonate and infants with reproducible results is now feasible with real-time high-resolution cranial sonography through anterior fontanelle.

Objectives: To evaluate the role of cranial sonography in neonates and infants specially stressed on its role in detecting cerebral lesions in prematurely born infants.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 653 patients. The study comprised 492 neonates and 161 infants above 1month of age. Out of the 492 neonates, 384 were premature and 108 full term. Examination was done by a 3.5- and 5-MHz sector probe.

Results: Germinal matrix hemorrhage (GMH) was the commonest abnormality (67.02%). In 199 asymptomatic premature babies, cranial sonography was abnormal in 51 (25.62%) cases. The pathologies seen were GMH and hydrocephalus.

Conclusion: Cranial sonography is a quite specific method to detect cerebral pathologies. GMH, ventricular dilatation, lesions in the parenchyma, and ventricles are easily diagnosed.

Key words: Cranial sonography, intraventricular hemorrhage, hydrocephalus, premature infant