Objective: The purpose of this study was to correlate normal brain anatomy as seen on posterior fontanelle cranial sonography with anatomical sections of the premature infant brain.
Materials and methods: Images obtained from 93 cranial ultrasound examinations performed via both the anterior and posterior fontanelle in 53 infants, ranging in gestational age from 24 to 42 weeks, were reviewed to determine the ultrasound anatomy visible and also the changing appearances with increasing gestational age. The brains of five infants were sectioned at post-mortem according to predetermined anatomical landmarks to correlate with posterior fontanelle ultrasound scan planes. Brain preservation techniques involved fixation in formalin at room temperature, refrigeration of brain following formalin fixation, and brain freezing at -17 degrees C.
Results: In the premature infant brain, the subarachnoid space is up to 15 mm in thickness. Occipital lobe anatomy well seen includes occipital horns of lateral ventricles, and white matter tracts to the visual cortex and visual association areas. Brain anatomy was better appreciated on sections obtained following brain freezing rather than formalin fixation.
Conclusion: Satisfactory ultrasound anatomic correlation of the premature brain is possible using a brain freezing preservation technique. Posterior fontanelle ultrasound allows detailed illustration of occipital lobe anatomy.