[Neuroimaging in preterm infants].
BACKGROUND
It is today well recognised that preterm infants are at risk of neurodevelopmental impairments later in life. The preterm brain is exposed to different stimuli that may affect its normal development. Develoment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers the possibility of monitoring normal brain development and pathology in the preterm brain. The most frequent lesions are germinal matrix/intraventricular haemorrhages, periventricular hemorrhagic infarction and periventricular leukomalacia. Other changes especially in the white matter, less well known from ultrasound studies, can be depicted with MRI. Furthermore, quantitative MRI techniques have demonstrated differences between the normal appearing preterm brain at term-equivalent age and the brain of term-born infants.


CONCLUSIONS
These studies confirm that the immature brain may develop differently in the extra uterine environment. Future studies with these techniques will improve our knowledge of the effects of prematurity on long term brain development.
Miranda
M J
MJ
Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Dinamarca. mariam@drcmr.dk
D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods