Navigating the neonatal brain through the base of the skull: an effective sonographic teaching tool

The neonatal head is routinely evaluated with ultrasound within hours after birth. The most common images obtained are coronal and sagittal views using the anterior fontanel as a window. Routine scanning protocols should include representative images of intracranial structures that are reproducible from one examination to another. The shape of the base of the skull can provide landmarks that can ensure reproducibility of examinations using a minimum of 11 images. The use of these landmarks makes it possible to have a consistent technique to localize anatomic structures and pathology in both planes.