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Scanning Dos and Don'ts: Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Awake Children Aged 3 to 5 Years to Assess Brain Structure and Function
Published on: March 10, 2026
Brain abnormalities in extremely low gestational age infants: a Swedish population based MRI study
Sandra Horsch1, Boubou Hallberg, Kristin Leifsdottir
1Department of Woman and Child Health, Karolinska Institutet Stockholm, Sweden. s.horsch@gmx.de
Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|May 26, 2007
Summary
Brain abnormalities affect 18% of extremely low gestational age (ELGA) infants in Stockholm. Key risk factors identified include high CRIB II scores and intraventricular hemorrhages, guiding future preventative strategies.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal neurology
- Pediatric neuroimaging
Background:
- Preterm infants, particularly those with extremely low gestational age (ELGA), frequently exhibit brain abnormalities.
- Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a reliable method for detecting these abnormalities at term equivalent age.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish population-based data on brain abnormalities in ELGA infants in the Stockholm region.
- To identify perinatal risk factors associated with MR-detected brain abnormalities.
Main Methods:
- MR imaging was performed on infants with gestational age <27 weeks born in Stockholm (2004-2005) at term equivalent age.
- A validated scoring system was used to analyze grey and white matter abnormalities.
Main Results:
- Moderate to severe white matter abnormalities were found in 18% of ELGA infants.
- Abnormalities were associated with higher Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB II) scores, inotrope use, high-grade intraventricular hemorrhages, and post-hemorrhagic ventricular dilatation.
Conclusions:
- The incidence of moderate to severe white matter abnormalities in this ELGA cohort is 18%.
- Ongoing neurodevelopmental follow-up at 30 months corrected age will further elucidate the clinical relevance of these findings.
