title: Incidental findings on routine brain MRI scans in preterm infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) have adopted the practice of performing routine brain MRI in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants at term-equivalent age in order to better evaluate prematurity-related acquired lesions. A number of unexpected brain abnormalities of potential clinical significance can be visualised on routine scans as well. The aim of our study was to describe these incidental findings (IFs) in a VLBW population and to assess their clinical significance.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed a series of brain MRI scans performed in VLBW infants consecutively admitted to our NICU between November 2011 and November 2014. IFs on brain MRI, which were not detected by cranial ultrasound nor suspected clinically, were registered. Clinical significance of IF was assessed in terms of need of further diagnostic or therapeutic interventions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IFs were detected in 28 out of 276 VLBW infants (10.1%). In total, 21 cases (7.6%) required an intervention, which was only diagnostic in 16 cases, and both diagnostic and therapeutic in 5 cases. In the remaining seven cases (2.5%), no further action was considered necessary.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that IFs on brain MRI of VLBW infants are not rare. In our population, most of them required a diagnostic or therapeutic intervention. The need and appropriateness of routine MRI scanning in VLBW at term-equivalent age are still subject of debate, and we believe our data can contribute meaningfully to this discussion.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malova
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neuroradiology Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neuroradiology Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariasavina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Severino
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parodi
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neuroradiology Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morana
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sannia
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cama
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca Antonio
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ramenghi
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Imaging; VLBW; brain; incidental finding; preterm