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Published on: February 18, 2012
Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging findings in children born extremely preterm, very preterm, and at term
Silja T Griffiths1, Irene B Elgen, W K Chong
1Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway. silja.torvik.griffiths@helse-bergen.no
Insights
Infants born extremely preterm (gestation < 28 weeks) and very preterm (gestation 28-31 weeks) show higher frequencies of cerebral MRI pathology compared to term-born infants, primarily mild abnormalities.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Neonatology
Background:
- Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in individuals born extremely preterm (gestation < 28 weeks) and very preterm (gestation 28-31 weeks) are compared to term-born controls.
- Understanding long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes is crucial for preterm infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare cerebral MRI scan findings between preterm infants and term-born controls at later ages.
- To identify potential differences in MRI pathology related to preterm birth.
Main Methods:
- Cerebral MRI scans were analyzed from 29 extremely preterm children at 11 years and 51 very preterm young adults at 19 years.
- Scans were compared with those of respective term-born control groups.
- MRI pathology was scored based on presence and degree.
Main Results:
- MRI pathology was significantly more frequent in extremely preterm children (76%) and very preterm young adults (55%) compared to their term-born controls (31% and 19%, respectively).
- The distribution of moderate and severe pathology did not differ between preterm and control groups.
- Differences in pathology were mainly limited to mild abnormalities.
Conclusions:
- While preterm birth is associated with higher frequencies of cerebral MRI pathology, no specific preterm MRI pattern was identified.
- The observed differences were predominantly in mild pathology, suggesting potential challenges in differentiating mild abnormalities from normal variations.
- Further research may be needed to refine criteria for assessing mild MRI pathology in preterm populations.
Background:
The aim of this study was to compare findings on cerebral MRI scans of infants born extremely preterm (i.e., gestation < 28 weeks, very preterm; gestation 28-31 weeks) and at term.
Methods:
MRI scans obtained in a cohort of 29 extremely preterm children at 11 years, 51 very preterm young adults at 19 years, and respective term-born controls were scored according to presence and degree of MRI pathology.
Results:
MRI pathology was found in 76% of the extremely preterm children vs 31% of their controls (odds ratio 4.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-137.5) and in 55% of the very preterm group vs 19% of their controls (odds ratio 5.2; 95% confidence interval, 2.5-10.9). The distribution of moderate and severe pathology did not differ among the groups.
Conclusions:
The extremely preterm, very preterm, and term subjects shared the same morphological pathology, revealing no specific preterm MRI pattern, but both premature cohorts had higher frequencies. Differences were mainly limited to mild pathology. Whether MRI lesions were more common in the extremely preterm than in the very preterm group is uncertain as the difference in frequency was similar in the two control groups, suggesting a lack of objective criteria for differentiating mild pathology from normality or that MRI scans normally differ at 11 and 19 years of age.
