Nomograms of cerebellar vermis height and transverse cerebellar diameter in appropriate-for-gestational-age neonates

Background: Evaluation of cerebellar morphology and measurement of its biometric parameters such as cerebellar vermis height and transverse cerebellar diameter may assist the neonatologist in monitoring cerebellar growth and development and detect abnormalities resulting from malformations, hemorrhage or ischemic infarction.

Aim: The aim of this study was to establish nomograms of cerebellar vermis height and transverse cerebellar diameter at birth in appropriate-for-gestational-age neonates by using cranial ultrasonography.

Study design: A cross-sectional observational study. Appropriate-for-gestational-age neonates were evaluated with cranial ultrasonography by the same neonatal sonographer.

Subjects: Healthy appropriate-for-gestational-age neonates born between 26 and 42 weeks of gestation in their first postnatal 24 h.

Outcome measures: Cranial sonographic measurements included cerebellar vermis height measured midsagitally from anterior fontanelle and transverse cerebellar diameter measured coronally from mastoid fontanelle. Measurements were taken for each gestational age between 26 and 42 weeks and nomograms were constructed.

Results: Three hundred twenty-one consecutively born appropriate-for-gestational-age neonates (163 females and 158 males) were studied. A linear growth function was observed between vermis height and gestational age and between transverse cerebellar diameter and gestational age.

Conclusion: Nomograms of cerebellar vermis height and transverse cerebellar diameter against gestational age at birth in appropriate-for-gestational-age neonates have been constructed. This can help the neonatologist to assess variations from the normal during ongoing cerebellar growth and development and to diagnose cerebellar anomalies.