title: Volumetric analysis of regional cerebral development in preterm children.
abstract: Preterm birth is frequently associated with both neuropathologic and cognitive sequelae. This study examined cortical lobe, subcortical, and lateral ventricle development in association with perinatal variables and cognitive outcome. High-resolution volumetric magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired and quantified using advanced image processing techniques. Seventy-three preterm and 33 term control children ages 7.3-11.4 years were included in the study. Results indicated disproportionately enlarged parietal and frontal gray matter, occipital horn, and ventricular body, as well as reduced temporal and subcortical gray volumes in preterm children compared with control subjects. Birth weight was negatively correlated with parietal and frontal gray, as well as occipital horn volumes. Intraventricular hemorrhage was associated with reduced subcortical gray matter. Ventricular cerebrospinal fluid was negatively correlated with subcortical gray matter volumes but not with white matter volumes. Maternal education was the strongest predictor of cognitive function in the preterm group. Preterm birth appears to be associated with disorganized cortical development, possibly involving disrupted synaptic pruning and neural migration. Lower birth weight and the presence of intraventricular hemorrhage may increase the risk for neuroanatomic abnormality.
authors.affiliation: Stanford Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5719, USA.
authors.forename: Shelli R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kesler
authors.forename: Laura R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Ment
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vohr
authors.forename: Sarah K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Pajot
authors.forename: Karen C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Karol H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Timothy B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Ebbitt
authors.forename: Charles C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Makuch
authors.forename: Allan L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Reiss
mesh_terms: D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D020547:Lateral Ventricles / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012727:Sex Characteristics