Posterior fossa abnormalities seen on magnetic resonance brain imaging in a cohort of newborn infants.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the nature and frequency of posterior fossa (PF) lesions in infants who underwent magnetic resonance (MR) brain imaging in the neonatal period and to correlate with cranial ultrasound (CUS) findings and clinical outcome.


METHODS
A retrospective review of all neonatal MR brain imaging from 1996 to 2001 (n=558). MR images, CUS and case notes were reviewed in infants with PF abnormality.


RESULTS
A total of 20 infants had abnormalities in the PF, which represents 4.7% of abnormalities seen on MR. Out of 10, six term infants had PF extra-axial hemorrhage, three had cerebellar hypoplasia, while one had cerebellar hemorrhage. In the preterm, 8/10 lesions were unilateral; focal cerebellar hemorrhage was seen in 5/10 and extensive hemorrhage with secondary atrophy in 3/10. Out of 20, 17 infants also had supratentorial lesions. Out of 20, 19 had CUS performed, of which 7/19 showed PF abnormality.


CONCLUSIONS
Intracerebellar hemorrhage was more common in preterm infants than in term infants. These hemorrhages tended to be focal, unilateral and were associated with atrophy.
Miall
Lawrence S
LS
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Cornette
Luc G
LG
Tanner
Steven F
SF
Arthur
Rosemary J
RJ
Levene
Malcolm I
MI
D001724:Birth Weight; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015996:Survival Rate