Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026
State of the Art Cranial Ultrasound Imaging in Neonates
Published on: February 2, 2015
Infantile panthalamic infarct with a striking sonographic finding: the "bright thalamus"
1Department of Paediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Insights
A bright thalamus on cranial sonograms is common in neonates but not older infants. This study reports bilateral thalamic infarcts in three older infants presenting with seizures and altered consciousness.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neonatology
Background:
- The
Observation:
- Three infants (9-14 months) presented with acute seizures and disturbed consciousness following a mild prodromal illness.
- Cranial ultrasonography and CT scans revealed bilateral thalamic infarcts in all three patients.
Findings:
- Bilateral thalamic infarcts were identified in older infants presenting with neurological symptoms.
- This finding contrasts with the common observation of a bright thalamus in neonates.
Implications:
- The presence of bilateral thalamic infarcts in older infants may indicate a specific pattern of brain injury.
- Further research is needed to understand the etiology and long-term outcomes of thalamic infarcts in this age group.
Abstract:
A "bright thalamus" is not uncommonly observed in cranial sonograms of asphyxiated neonates, but not those of older infants. Three infants, aged 9-14 months, developed acute onset of seizures and disturbance of consciousness after a minor prodromal illness. Bilateral thalamic infarcts were demonstrated by ultrasonography and CT. One patient expired from causes not directly related to the infarcts; the other two survived with severe neurological sequelae.
