Neonatal infarction within basal cerebral vein territory

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neonatal Medicine
• Vascular Anatomy

Background:

• Intracranial hemorrhage is a serious complication in newborns, particularly those born to mothers with diabetes.
• The basal veins of Rosenthal are deep cerebral veins that play a role in venous drainage of the brain.
• Previous literature has not implicated the basal veins of Rosenthal in neonatal brain hemorrhage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explain an unusual case of intracranial hemorrhage in a term male infant.
• To propose occlusion of the basal veins of Rosenthal as the underlying cause of this hemorrhage.
• To highlight the diagnostic challenges in identifying basal vein occlusion in neonates.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a term male infant with intracranial hemorrhage.
• Analysis of the anatomical location and imaging characteristics (iconographic aspect) of the clots.
• Review of existing diagnostic modalities for neonatal intracranial hemorrhage.

Main Results:

• The intracranial hemorrhage was attributed to occlusion of both basal veins of Rosenthal.
• The diagnosis was based on the characteristic appearance and location of the blood clots.
• Current neonatal imaging techniques (ultrasound, MR angiography) were insufficient to confirm basal vein occlusion.

Conclusions:

• Occlusion of the basal veins of Rosenthal is a potential, previously unrecognized cause of neonatal intracranial hemorrhage.
• Accurate diagnosis relies on careful interpretation of clot morphology and location.
• Further research is needed to develop reliable methods for diagnosing basal vein occlusion in neonates.