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Regional cortical development in very low birth weight infants with normal neurodevelopmental outcome assessed by 3D-ultrasound

Journal of Perinatology volume 33, pages 533–537 (2013)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

Three-dimensional ultrasound (3D-US) offers new perspectives in cerebral imaging.

Study Design:

This prospective study aimed to determine whether 3D-US is appropriate to assess cortical development of the premature brain, and compare it to previously established reference values assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Preterm infants with a gestational age (GA) of <32 weeks were examined by serial 3D-US scans.

Result:

Data of 30 patients with normal neurological development at the age of 5 years were included in the analysis. Cortical development was graded according to a five-point scoring system, and data were stratified into 6 age groups. Cortical developmental scores were established for various brain regions. In the frontal and frontoparietal regions, 3D-US reference values differed from published MRI reference values, but were consistent with the published data in all other regions.

Conclusion:

3D-US reference values facilitate routine diagnostics and enable the evaluation of cortical development in preterm infants.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant from the “Medizinisch-Wissenschaftlichen Fonds des Bürgermeisters der Bundeshauptstadt Wien” (medical-scientific fund of the Major of Vienna) project number 1776.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Neonatology, Intensive Care and Neuropediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    K Klebermass-Schrehof, S Moerth, R Fuiko, S Brandstetter, A Berger & N Haiden

  2. Department of Radiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    K Vergesslich-Rothschild

  3. Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    B Jilma

Authors
  1. K Klebermass-Schrehof
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  2. S Moerth
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  4. R Fuiko
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  6. B Jilma
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  7. A Berger
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  8. N Haiden
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Correspondence to K Klebermass-Schrehof.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Journal of Perinatology website

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Klebermass-Schrehof, K., Moerth, S., Vergesslich-Rothschild, K. et al. Regional cortical development in very low birth weight infants with normal neurodevelopmental outcome assessed by 3D-ultrasound. J Perinatol 33, 533–537 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2012.156

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2012.156

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