Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 27, 2025
State of the Art Cranial Ultrasound Imaging in Neonates
Published on: February 2, 2015
Ultrasound measurements of brain structures differ between moderate-late preterm and full-term infants at term
Vivian Boswinkel1, Femke I Sok2, Martine F Krüse-Ruijter2
1Department of Neonatology, Women and Children's Hospital, Isala, Dokter van Heesweg 2, 8025 AB Zwolle, the Netherlands; University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Insights
Brain growth in preterm infants (gestational age 32-36 weeks) differs from full-term infants, with smaller head measurements observed. These brain differences in moderate preterm and late preterm infants warrant further investigation for clinical significance.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal neuroscience
- Pediatric imaging
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Preterm birth, specifically moderate preterm (MP; 32-33 weeks) and late preterm (LP; 34-36 weeks) infants, may experience impaired brain growth.
- Such brain development concerns can occur even without detectable brain injury.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate brain measurements in moderate preterm (MP) and late preterm (LP) infants.
- To compare these measurements with those of full-term infants.
- To utilize linear cranial ultrasound (cUS) at term equivalent age (TEA) for assessment.
Main Methods:
- Combined cUS data from two prospective cohorts.
- Offline measurements of eleven brain structures by two investigators on standard cUS planes.
- Employed uni- and multivariable linear regression, adjusting for postmenstrual age at cUS and correcting for multiple testing.
Main Results:
- Compared 44 MP, 54 LP, and 52 full-term infants at TEA.
- MP and LP infants exhibited smaller biparietal diameters and basal ganglia-insula widths than full-term infants (p < 0.001).
- MP infants showed a larger corpus callosum - fastigium length compared to full-term infants (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Brain growth patterns in moderate preterm (MP) and late preterm (LP) infants demonstrably differ from those of full-term infants.
- The long-term clinical implications of these observed brain growth differences require further investigation.
Background:
Brain growth in moderate preterm (MP; gestational age (GA) 32+0-33+6 weeks) and late preterm infants (LP; GA 34+0-36+6 weeks) may be impaired, even in the absence of brain injury.
Aims:
The aims of this study were to assess brain measurements of MP and LP infants, and to compare these with full-term infants (GA > 37 weeks) using linear cranial ultrasound (cUS) at term equivalent age (TEA).
Study Design:
cUS data from two prospective cohorts were combined. Two investigators performed offline measurements on standard cUS planes. Eleven brain structures were compared between MP, LP and full-term infants using uni- and multivariable linear regression. Results were adjusted for postmenstrual age at cUS and corrected for multiple testing.
Results:
Brain measurements of 44 MP, 54 LP and 52 full-term infants were determined on cUS scans at TEA. Biparietal diameter and basal ganglia-insula width were smaller in MP (-9.1 mm and - 1.7 mm, p < 0.001) and LP infants (-7.0 mm and - 1.7 mm, p < 0.001) compared to full-term infants. Corpus callosum - fastigium length was larger in MP (+2.2 mm, p < 0.001) than in full-term infants. No significant differences were found between MP and LP infants.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that brain growth in MP and LP infants differs from full-term infants. Whether these differences have clinical implications remains to be investigated.
