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Posterior Fossa Abnormalities Seen on Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging in a Cohort of Newborn Infants

Journal of Perinatology volume 23, pages 396–403 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the nature and frequency of posterior fossa (PF) lesions in infants who underwent magnetic resonance (MR) brain imaging in the neonatal period and to correlate with cranial ultrasound (CUS) findings and clinical outcome.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of all neonatal MR brain imaging from 1996 to 2001 (n=558). MR images, CUS and case notes were reviewed in infants with PF abnormality.

RESULTS: A total of 20 infants had abnormalities in the PF, which represents 4.7% of abnormalities seen on MR. Out of 10, six term infants had PF extra-axial hemorrhage, three had cerebellar hypoplasia, while one had cerebellar hemorrhage. In the preterm, 8/10 lesions were unilateral; focal cerebellar hemorrhage was seen in 5/10 and extensive hemorrhage with secondary atrophy in 3/10. Out of 20, 17 infants also had supratentorial lesions. Out of 20, 19 had CUS performed, of which 7/19 showed PF abnormality.

CONCLUSION: Intracerebellar hemorrhage was more common in preterm infants than in term infants. These hemorrhages tended to be focal, unilateral and were associated with atrophy.

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Acknowledgements

We are indebted to all the staff of the neonatal unit and the MR department for their assistance. We are also grateful to all the pediatricians who provided us with follow-up data. We particularly thank the parents of the babies for allowing their infants to be scanned.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

    Lawrence S Miall MBBS, Bsc, MMedSc, Luc G Cornette & Malcolm I Levene

  2. Academic Unit of Medical Physics, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

    Steven F Tanner

  3. Department of Paediatric Radiology, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK

    Rosemary J Arthur

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  1. Lawrence S Miall MBBS, Bsc, MMedSc
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Miall, L., Cornette, L., Tanner, S. et al. Posterior Fossa Abnormalities Seen on Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging in a Cohort of Newborn Infants. J Perinatol 23, 396–403 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7210941

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