title: Effect of Prematurity on Cerebellar Growth.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate cerebellar growth of preterm infants. Vermis height and transverse cerebellar diameter were measured by cranial ultrasonography in 38 preterm infants (27-32 weeks) at birth and term equivalent age. Measurements were compared with 40 term appropriate-for-gestational-age infants. Preterms at term equivalent age had larger vermis height than term infants (2.39 ± 0.25 cm vs 2.25 ± 0.18 cm, P = .005), whereas no significant difference was found in the transverse cerebellar diameter (5.32 ± 0.38 cm vs 5.44 ± 0.23 cm, P = .13). Vermis height and transverse cerebellar diameter of appropriate-for-gestational-age preterm infants (n = 29) were found larger than small-for-gestational-age ones (n = 9). Vermis height and transverse cerebellar diameter at term equivalent age of appropriate-for-gestational-age preterm infants born before and after 29 weeks of age showed no significant difference. Cerebellar growth is preserved in extreme preterms. However, being small for gestational age may have deleterious effects on cerebellar development.
authors.affiliation: Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Training and Research Hospital, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Istanbul, Turkey drselimsancak61@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sancak
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Koç University School of Medicine, Neonatology Unit, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tugba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gursoy
authors.affiliation: Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Training and Research Hospital, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ebru Yalın
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Imamoglu
authors.affiliation: Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Training and Research Hospital, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Güner
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karatekin
authors.affiliation: Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Training and Research Hospital, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fahri
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ovali
mesh_terms: D002531:Cerebellum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: cerebellum; preterm; supratentorial lesion; transverse cerebellar diameter; vermis height