The value of pediatric Transcranial ultrasound and color Duplex in various pathologies

Abstract

Transcranial ultrasonography is an essential diagnostic tool in modern neonatology. It is very suitable for screening, and it depicts normal anatomy, maturational changes, and pathological changes in the brains of neonates and infants. Transcranial ultrasound is the first choice imaging modality employed in assessment of neonatal and infantile brain. As a bedside and a noninvasive technique ultrasound helps in decrease the mortality rate amongst pediatric age group as several problems are associated with transporting of critically ill cases especially if they were on ventilation. The scan can reliably be performed only by specially trained individuals and with suitable equipment and technique. It plays an important role in assessing neurological prognosis in infants at risk. During the late fetal period and in the case of (very) preterm birth, essential maturational processes of the brain take place which include brain growth, surface development, and gyration (white matter changes due to myelination), all these changes can be visualized by Transcranial ultrasound.

Nowadays ultrasound devices are available at the most of the neonatal nurseries. It is the accepted initial investigation for the diagnosis of germinal matrix, intraventricular haemorrhage, or both in the premature infant.