Role of Transcranial Ultrasound and Color Doppler in Diagnosis of Intracranial Lesions in Neonates and Infants

Abstract

Transcranial ultrasound is the primary imaging modality employed in the assessment of neonatal and infant brain. Improvements in critical care medicine have resulted in the increased survival of premature, low birth weight and asphyxiated infants. Several problems are associated with imaging of critically ill neonates. These include the choice of imaging technique, the timing of the imaging study, and transporting acutely ill neonates, many of whom require ventilatory assistance and multiple indwelling catheters. Sonography is the neuro-imaging technique that is well established in its use in the neonatal nursery. It is the accepted initial investigation for the diagnosis of germinal matrix, intraventricular haemorrhage, or both in the premature infant. Hydrocephalus complicating intraventricular haemorrhage can be readily diagnosed and monitored. Similarly, sonography can be used to diagnose ventricular enlargement or other causes of macrocephaly and to diagnose congenital intracranial anomalies. It has proven diagnostic value in detecting the most common brain lesions in premature neonates; such lesions