A study of brain development in low-birth-weight infants by computerized tomography.
Follow up study was conducted by brain CT scans on fullterm and premature infants for a period of 3 years following birth. The results were: 1. Low density areas were observed symmetrically in the frontal region in premature infants for 3 to 4 months after birth. However, they disappeared after 44 weeks of postconceptional age irrespective of either gestational age or birth weight. 2. At 40 to 56 weeks postconceptional age extracerebral space was most frequently found. The extracerebral space was found to exist longer in proportion to the shortness of gestational age and to a lower birth weight. 3. Some infants in the group who showed definite extracerebral space required persistent artificial ventilation for a long period. This may indicate that could exist a relationship between the occurrence of this particular space and hypoxia. 4. We consider that the extracerebral space in CT scan can be a useful parameter to assess the process of brain growth in premature infants.
D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development*; D002535:Cerebral Aqueduct / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013346:Subarachnoid Space / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed