title: Integrated backscatter of the brain of preterm infants.
abstract: We measured integrated backscatter (IBS) in the brain of preterm infants using acoustic ultrasound. The study group consisted of 25 preterm infants (gestational age, 32.4+/-2.5 weeks; birth weight, 1488+/-422 g). In parasagittal scans through the posterior horn of the lateral ventricle, regions of interest (ROI) were positioned in the cerebral white matter near the posterior horn (P), anterior horn (A) of the lateral ventricle, and the thalamus (T). IBS of the ROI was measured and IBS of P minus T (P-T) and IBS of A minus T (A-T) were calculated. A-T was greater than P-T. A-T and P-T decreased with increasing gestational age and birth weight. These changes may represent maturation of the cerebrum. A-T or P-T may be useful parameters of cerebral tissue characterization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan. koichiha@jichi.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kou
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ichihashi
authors.forename: Yukari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yada
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Homma
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Momoi
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004453:Echoencephalography; D005865:Gestational Age; D048788:Growth and Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*