title: Nomograms of cerebellar vermis height and transverse cerebellar diameter in appropriate-for-gestational-age neonates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evaluation of cerebellar morphology and measurement of its biometric parameters such as cerebellar vermis height and transverse cerebellar diameter may assist the neonatologist in monitoring cerebellar growth and development and detect abnormalities resulting from malformations, hemorrhage or ischemic infarction.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to establish nomograms of cerebellar vermis height and transverse cerebellar diameter at birth in appropriate-for-gestational-age neonates by using cranial ultrasonography.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional observational study. Appropriate-for-gestational-age neonates were evaluated with cranial ultrasonography by the same neonatal sonographer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy appropriate-for-gestational-age neonates born between 26 and 42 weeks of gestation in their first postnatal 24 h.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cranial sonographic measurements included cerebellar vermis height measured midsagitally from anterior fontanelle and transverse cerebellar diameter measured coronally from mastoid fontanelle. Measurements were taken for each gestational age between 26 and 42 weeks and nomograms were constructed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred twenty-one consecutively born appropriate-for-gestational-age neonates (163 females and 158 males) were studied. A linear growth function was observed between vermis height and gestational age and between transverse cerebellar diameter and gestational age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nomograms of cerebellar vermis height and transverse cerebellar diameter against gestational age at birth in appropriate-for-gestational-age neonates have been constructed. This can help the neonatologist to assess variations from the normal during ongoing cerebellar growth and development and to diagnose cerebellar anomalies.
authors.affiliation: Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Training and Research Hospital, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: ebruli013@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ebru Yalin
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Imamoglu
authors.forename: Tugba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gursoy
authors.forename: Fahri
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ovali
authors.forename: Mutlu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayran
authors.forename: Guner
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karatekin
mesh_terms: D002531:Cerebellum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009421:Nervous System Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D049451:Nomograms; D014421:Turkey; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Cerebellum; Cranial ultrasonography; Neonate