Cranial Ultrasonographic application in preterm baby as a predective for white matter insult

Cranial Ultrasound is the most available and easily repeatable technique for imaging the neonatal brain. The quality and diagnostic accuracy depend on various factors; the suitability of the Ultrasound machine for neonatal cranial work, the use of optimal settings and probes, appropriate scanning protocols, the use of a variety of acoustic windows and last but not the least the scanning experience of the examiner. Knowledge of normal anatomy and the echogenicities of different tissues in normal and pathological situations as well as familiarity with the physiological and pathological processes likely to be encountered are vital. This paper assesses the value and appropriate use, safety and diagnostic accuracy of Ultrasound in evaluating the brain of the preterm born infants. This study group consisted of 308 preterm neonates, the gestational ages at birth ranged from 26 weeks to 34 weeks, and the birth weights ranged from 650 grams to 2250 grams, underwent cranial ultrasound in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). 31 premature neonates were found to have PVL. Type of delivery, presence of perinatal asphyxia, gestation age and birth weight, were statistically insignificantly associated with PVL. Chorioamnionitis and neonatal sepsis and mechanical ventilation > 72 hours were the statistically significantly factors associated with PVL injury.