Real-time sonographic sector scanning of the neonatal cranium: technique and normal anatomy

A commercially available wide field of view real-time mechanical sector scanner can be used to image the neonatal cranium. Because of the small transducer head size, the open anterior fontanelle can function as an acoustic window. By thus avoiding bone, higher frequency transducers may be used to improve image resolution. Infants may be scanned quickly without sedation in their isolettes in the neonatal intensive care unit. Sterility of the infant environment is maintained by placing the transducer in a surgical glove. Using this technique, detailed normal anatomy can be seen such as vascular structures, caudate nucleus, thalamus, third ventricle, cavum septum pellucidum, and the thalamocaudate notch. Angled coronal and sagittal sonographic anatomy is correlated with neonatal cadaver brain sections sliced in similar planes centered on the anterior fontanelle.