Intracranial hemorrhage in the term newborn.

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Pediatric Neurology
• Radiology

Background:

• Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a significant concern in term newborns.
• Computed tomography (CT) is a key diagnostic tool for identifying ICH.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the types and associated risk factors of intracranial hemorrhage in term newborns.
• To analyze the clinical presentation and outcomes of different ICH types.

Main Methods:

• A five-year retrospective study of 22 term newborns diagnosed with ICH via CT scan.
• Analysis of hemorrhage types, causes, and clinical associations.

Main Results:

• Subarachnoid hemorrhage was the most common type.
• Diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage linked to traumatic delivery or hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, causing early seizures.
• Focal subarachnoid hemorrhage associated with cerebral infarction.
• Intraventricular hemorrhage often linked to traumatic delivery or occurred without clear risk factors.
• Cerebellar hemorrhage associated with traumatic delivery.

Conclusions:

• ICH in newborns presents with diverse types and varying risk factors.
• Traumatic delivery and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy are significant contributors to neonatal ICH.
• Specific hemorrhage patterns correlate with distinct clinical findings and potential causes.