Incidence of brain lesions in moderate-late preterm infants assessed by cranial ultrasound and MRI: The BIMP-study

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the incidence and characteristics of brain lesions in moderate-late preterm (MLPT) infants, born at 32–36 weeks’ gestation using cranial ultrasound (cUS) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods Prospective cohort study carried out Isala Women Children’s Hospital between August 2017 November 2019. cUS was performed postnatal day 3–4 (early-cUS), before discharge repeated term equivalent age (TEA) MLPT infants 32+0 35+6 gestation. At TEA, MRI also performed. Several were assessed e.g. hemorrhages, white matter deep gray injury. Brain maturation visually evaluated. Lesions classified as mild or moderate-severe. Incidences confidence intervals calculated. Results 166 included whom 127 underwent MRI. One more present 119/166 (71.7 %) moderate-severe 6/166 (3.6 on and/or The most frequent signs suggestive injury: inhomogeneous echogenicity 50/164 (30.5 early-cUS, 12/148 (8.1 TEA-cUS diffuse signal changes (MRI) 27/127 (23.5 infants. Cerebellar hemorrhage observed 16/127 (12.6 %). Delayed seen 17/117 (13.4 Small hemorrhages punctate frequently detected than cUS. Conclusions In encountered, especially injury small hemorrhages. Moderate-severe less seen.