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Measurement Of Neuromagnetic Brain Function In Pre-school Children With Custom Sized MEG
Published on: February 19, 2010
Brain MRI measurements at a term-equivalent age and their relationship to neurodevelopmental outcomes
1From the Department of Pediatrics (H.W.P.), Division of Neonatology, Konkuk University Hospital, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Insights
Brain MRI measurements at term-equivalent age, including transcerebellar diameter and corpus callosum length, predict neurodevelopmental outcomes in very low-birth-weight infants at 2 years corrected age.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal neurology
- Developmental pediatrics
- Medical imaging
Background:
- Increasing survival rates of preterm infants lead to a higher prevalence of disabilities.
- Neurodevelopmental outcomes in very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants remain a significant concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the correlation between specific brain MRI measurements at term-equivalent age and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years corrected age in VLBW infants.
- To identify potential imaging biomarkers for predicting neurodevelopmental deficits.
Main Methods:
- Brain MRI scans were performed at term-equivalent age in VLBW infants.
- Reproducible measurements of transcerebellar diameter and corpus callosum length were obtained from sagittal images.
- Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (II) at 2 years corrected age.
Main Results:
- A shorter corpus callosum length was associated with a lower Mental Developmental Index (<70) and increased risk of cerebral palsy.
- A smaller transcerebellar diameter correlated with lower Psychomotor and Mental Developmental Indices (<70) and major neurological disability.
- Ninety VLBW infants (mean gestational age 27 weeks, mean birth weight 805.5 g) were included in the study.
Conclusions:
- Transcerebellar diameter and corpus callosum length on neonatal brain MRI are associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years corrected age.
- These brain MRI measurements can serve as valuable adjunctive tools for parental counseling regarding future developmental trajectories.
Background And Purpose:
An increased prevalence of disabilities is being observed as more preterm infants survive. This study was conducted to evaluate correlations between brain MR imaging measurements taken at a term-equivalent age and neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years' corrected age among very low-birth-weight infants.
Materials And Methods:
Of the various brain MR imaging measurements obtained at term-equivalent ages, reproducible measurements of the transcerebellar diameter and anteroposterior length of the corpus callosum on sagittal images were compared with neurodevelopmental outcomes evaluated by the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (II) at 2 years' corrected age (mean ± standard deviation, 16.1 ± 6.4 months of age).
Results:
Ninety infants were enrolled. The mean gestational age at birth was 27 weeks and the mean birth weight was 805.5 g. A short corpus callosal length was associated with a Mental Developmental Index <70 (P = .047) and high-risk or diagnosed cerebral palsy (P = .049). A small transcerebellar diameter was associated with a Psychomotor Developmental Index <70 (P = .003), Mental Developmental Index <70 (P = .004), and major neurologic disability (P = .006).
Conclusions:
A small transcerebellar diameter and short corpus callosal length on brain MR imaging at a term-equivalent age are related to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at a corrected age of 2 years and could be a useful adjunctive tool for counseling parents about future developmental outcomes.
