PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - J.A. Roelants
AU  - I.V. Koning
AU  - M.M.A. Raets
AU  - S.P. Willemsen
AU  - M.H. Lequin
AU  - R.P.M. Steegers-Theunissen
AU  - I.K.M. Reiss
AU  - M.J. Vermeulen
AU  - P. Govaert
AU  - J. Dudink
TI  - A New Ultrasound Marker for Bedside Monitoring of Preterm Brain Growth
AID  - 10.3174/ajnr.A4731
DP  - 2016 Aug 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 1516--1522
VI  - 37
IP  - 8
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/37/8/1516.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/37/8/1516.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.2016 Aug 01; 37
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Preterm neonates are at risk for neurodevelopmental impairment, but reliable, bedside-available markers to monitor preterm brain growth during hospital stay are still lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of corpus callosum–fastigium length as a new cranial sonography marker for monitoring of preterm brain growth.MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this longitudinal prospective cohort study, cranial ultrasound was planned on the day of birth, days 1, 2, 3, and 7 of life; and then weekly until discharge in preterm infants born before 29 weeks of gestational age. Reproducibility and associations between clinical variables and corpus callosum–fastigium growth trajectories were studied.RESULTS: A series of 1–8 cranial ultrasounds was performed in 140 infants (median gestational age at birth, 27+2 weeks (interquartile range, 26+1 to 28+1; 57.9% male infants). Corpus callosum–fastigium measurements showed good-to-excellent agreement for inter- and intraobserver reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.89). Growth charts for preterm infants between 24 and 32 weeks of gestation were developed. Male sex and birth weight SD score were positively associated with corpus callosum–fastigium growth rate.CONCLUSIONS: Corpus callosum–fastigium length measurement is a new reproducible marker applicable for bedside monitoring of preterm brain growth during neonatal intensive care stay.BWbirth weightCCcorpus callosumCCFcorpus callosum–fastigiumCUScranial ultrasoundGAgestational ageHELLPhemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet countNICUneonatal intensive care unit