Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026
State of the Art Cranial Ultrasound Imaging in Neonates
Published on: February 2, 2015
Postnatal ultrasound reliability in cerebellar vermis assessment
R K Armstrong1, L M Fox, J L Y Cheong
1Department of Neonatal Services, The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. ruth.armstrong@rch.org.au
Background:
Cerebellar growth in late gestation is impeded by prematurity which may adversely affect neurocognitive development. Assessment of cerebellar growth should be easily attainable, reliable and reproducible.
Objective:
To assess the reliability of linear sonographic cerebellar vermis measurement.
Method:
Cranial ultrasounds of 110 infants ranging from 24 to 41 weeks' gestation were retrospectively reviewed. Cerebellar vermian height, craniocaudal diameter and superior and inferior vermis widths were independently measured on the first midline sagittal image by three neonatal sonologists of varying experience. Interobserver and intraobserver reliability were calculated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) (2 way mixed model, SPSS V.15.0).
Results:
61 images were technically adequate. Interobserver ICCs (95% CI) were: cerebellar vermian height 0.88 (0.82 to 0.92); craniocaudal diameter 0.91 (0.86 to 0.94); superior vermis width 0.84 (0.77 to 0.89); inferior vermis width 0.92 (0.89 to 0.95). Intraobserver ICCs were similar.
Conclusion:
With adequate images, linear ultrasound measurements of cerebellar vermis are reliable.
