Neurosonography of the brain of newborns. Adult secrets of a child's head: Ultrasound of the brain in a newborn - neurosonography

Ultrasound of the brain of newborns is a modern and objective method for studying the brain structures that are located inside the skull. This technique is otherwise called neurosonography of newborns; it can be used both as a preventive measure and to identify pathological processes. The peculiarity of this procedure is that it is only possible for infants; for children after a year, ultrasound of the cerebral vessels is not so informative.

What is neurosonography?

“Neurosonography” is translated from Greek as the study of nerve tissue; this type of diagnostics is quite young, but at the same time it has managed to prove its accuracy and efficiency. Neurosonography involves a conventional ultrasound scan of the components of the baby’s brain, which allows one to evaluate the parameters of internal tissues and correlate them with norms. Decoding the data will allow us to draw a conclusion about whether the baby is healthy or whether there are pathologies of this organ in the infant. Most often, this study is of a screening nature, that is, it is prescribed without specific reasons, as a diagnostic procedure, for example, during difficult childbirth.

How safe is the procedure?

Since we are talking about newborn children, the issue of the safety of the procedure comes first, because it is very easy to harm the infant’s fragile body. Ten to fifteen years ago, brain examinations of newly born children were prescribed only in extreme cases, if there was a real danger to the life and health of the baby. This was due to the fact that the procedure was carried out using the magnetic resonance therapy method, using anesthetics. It is not difficult to guess that this type of diagnosis is very dangerous and can cause serious consequences in newborn children.

A relatively new technique, neurosonography, has greatly simplified the life of neonatologists and children, as it allows one to identify a wide variety of brain diseases in children. Ultrasound of the brain is absolutely safe and painless, even for children who are only a few days old. It shows, first of all, congenital, as well as acquired deviations from the norm; this is the most effective method for identifying birth-related brain injuries. Since the advent of neurosonography, infant mortality rates have decreased significantly, as it allows diagnosis and treatment to begin in the first days of children's lives.

When is an ultrasound of the brain prescribed for newborns?

Despite the fact that the expectant mother carefully prepares for the upcoming birth of a child, the birth process can often follow an unpredictable scenario. Statistics show that almost 80% of births over the past few years had at least the most minor deviations, that is, the birth was not ideal.

Common complications include: a protracted labor process, weak labor, entanglement of the baby in the umbilical cord, or too painful contractions. Depending on the situation, doctors may use stimulant drugs and IVs, pain-relieving injections, or even epidural anesthesia. In most cases, doctors are prepared for an unexpected turn of events and the baby is born healthy. But for diagnosis, a child in such situations usually undergoes an ultrasound of the brain to exclude possible birth injuries and pathologies.

Indications for neurosonography

An ultrasound of the newborn’s brain is urgently performed when the baby has an unusual head shape.
If during the initial examination and measurement of the parameters of the head it was revealed that its circumference is larger than normal, but the width of the chest is normal.
In the event that immediately after birth a low Apgar score was given, below 7 points.
If the birth occurs significantly ahead of schedule, and the newborn is considered premature.
Then, when there is a strange shape of the eyes, deformation of the fingers or ears.
Ultrasound of the cerebral vessels is mandatory for newborn children if fetal pathologies were detected during pregnancy.
If there are malformations of any internal organs.
In those situations, if in the first days of life the baby had seizures.
Neurosonography is indicated after all births with complications, be it fetal hypoxia, entanglement in the umbilical cord, weak or rapid labor, or the use of stimulants and analgesics.
This procedure is performed on all babies born using a vacuum or forceps.
In the event that a large amount of time has passed between the moment the water breaks and the actual birth of the child.
This type of diagnosis is indicated for all children who were born by caesarean section.
If your baby spits up frequently.
If the neonatologist suspects the presence of serious neurological diseases of varying severity.
In the case where there was perinatal brain damage in newborn children.
When a Rhesus conflict is detected between parents or between mother and baby.

Most often, ultrasound of cerebral vessels is used as a diagnostic during the initial diagnosis, but sometimes it is used repeatedly to assess the course of an established disease and adjust treatment if necessary.

How to prepare for the procedure?

An ultrasound of the brain does not require any special preparation from either the child or the parents; it can be performed under any conditions. For the study, it does not matter whether the child’s stomach is empty, but he will behave calmer if he is full. It is recommended to feed the baby at least half an hour before the ultrasound so that he does not spit up.

This type of diagnosis is informative for children, newly born and a little older, the main condition is that their large fontanelle should not have time to close. It is located on the top of the head near the frontal bone and usually remains open for about a year. If there is an urgent need, scanning can be carried out later through other, smaller fontanelles, but the signal will be less accurate, and, therefore, decoding will take longer.

How is an ultrasound scan of a newborn's brain performed?

Regardless of the indications and age of the baby, it is recommended to let him sleep and feed him well before the procedure. Then he will not feel any discomfort and will behave calmly. To distract him, you can take a toy to the appointment. A standard brain scan includes the following steps:

The newborn is placed on the couch, and the parents or nurse fixes him in the desired position. The procedure lasts approximately 10 minutes, it is important that during this period of time the little patient behaves calmly.
The baby is not given any drugs or anesthesia; the only thing that is necessary is to keep his head motionless.
A special gel is applied to the crown of the head in the area where the large fontanel is located; it differs from what is used for ultrasound in adults. This gel is hypoallergenic and improves the sensor signal by removing the layer of air between the surface of the skin and the sensor.
A sensor is placed on the area of the head that has been smeared with gel, and the doctor moves it over the head, recording the parameters of the brain and surrounding tissues.

What data does this scan show?

During this procedure, the diagnostician can see all the components of the baby’s brain, including the ventricles and parts of the liquor-conducting system. Neurosonography is able to recognize even those pathologies that do not manifest themselves in any way, for example, internal hemorrhages, ischemic areas, cysts and tumors. Using this method, intracranial pressure can be detected. After this scan, the neonatologist makes a decision about the possible discharge of the newborn home, makes a diagnosis if necessary, or confirms that the baby is healthy.

How are ultrasound results interpreted?

Interpretation of ultrasound data should be carried out by an experienced neonatologist or neurologist. The size standards look like this:

Large tank from 3 to 6 mm.
The anterior horn of the lateral ventricle is from 1 to 2 mm.
Subarachnoid space – maximum up to 3 mm.
The interhemispheric gap is no more than 2 mm.
Lateral ventricle body – no more than 4 mm.
Symmetrical 3rd ventricle – up to 6 mm.

Joseph Addison

With the help of exercise and abstinence, most people can do without medicine.

Ultrasound examination allows you to study the work and structure of internal organs. By reflecting the waves, the finished data is sent to the monitor. Ultrasound of the brain in infants is a mandatory preventive examination procedure. Thanks to the data obtained, it is possible to judge the structure of the brain and the functioning of the vascular system. The examination is carried out quickly and painlessly and does not pose any danger to the child..

NSG (neurosonography) allows you to determine disturbances in the functioning and structure of all brain structures, as well as evaluate the functioning of the central nervous system.

NSG is carried out through the fontanel, which is located between the unfused bones of the skull. Thanks to this, the result will be accurate and correct. The fontanel is soft to the touch, pulsation is palpable. Normally it should be at the level of the surface of the head. Swelling indicates health problems.

The NSG procedure does not require additional preparation - it is enough to free the child’s head from the cap. The result is not affected in any way by the child’s condition, even if he cries, is capricious, or calmly examines the situation. The procedure is also carried out when the child is sleeping.

What is the reason for this study?

Ultrasound is a mandatory scheduled procedure every month. In other cases, indications for performing NSG before the first month of life are the following cases:

NSG is mandatory in one month in the following cases:

children who were born by caesarean section;
irregular head shape;
conduct research to monitor the condition;
with developmental disorders such as torticollis, strabismus, paralysis;

For children older than one month, NSG is performed for the following indications:

evaluate the effectiveness of treatment for injuries or neurological diseases of the brain;
after infectious diseases (encephalitis, meningitis);
genetic and gene disorders;
head injury.

In some cases, an MRI of the brain is indicated, which is performed under anesthesia.

Interpretation of the results obtained during the survey

The results will depend on many factors - due date, birth weight. The norm for all children of different months of life is the following parameters.

All parts of the brain should be symmetrical in size and homogeneous in composition.
The furrows and convolutions have clear contours.
There is no fluid in the interhemispheric fissure, and its dimensions do not exceed 3 mm.
The choroid plexuses of the ventricles are hyperechoic and homogeneous.
The normal size of the lateral ventricles is: anterior horns – up to 4 mm, occipital horns – 15 mm, body – up to 4 mm. The third and fourth ventricles are up to 4 mm.
The norm for a large tank is up to 10 mm.
There should be no seals, cysts or neoplasms.
The membranes of the brain are unchanged.
The normal size of the subarachnoid space does not exceed 3 mm. If it is greater, and an increase in temperature and frequent regurgitation are observed, then a disease such as meningitis can be suspected. If there are no associated symptoms, all other examinations are normal, perhaps this phenomenon is temporary.

The ventricular cavity should not be enlarged. Their increase indicates diseases such as hydrocephalus and rickets. During hydrocephalus, the child has a large head and swollen fontanel. This disorder causes frequent headaches, mental and physical underdevelopment.

The contents of the lateral ventricles (right and left) is cerebrospinal fluid. With the help of special holes they are connected to the third ventricle. There is also a fourth ventricle, which is located between the cerebellum and the medulla oblongata.
In the lateral ventricles, the cerebrospinal fluid joins, after which it moves into the subarachnoid space. If such an outflow is disrupted for some reason, hydrocephalus occurs.
Asymmetry of the lateral ventricles (dilatation) is observed when the amount of fluid increases. The disease can be diagnosed in children who were born prematurely, since their lateral ventricles are larger.
If asymmetry of the lateral ventricles is detected on the NSG, the size is measured and the quantitative and qualitative characteristics are determined.
The main reasons due to which the ventricular cavity expands include hydrocephalus, trauma to the skull and brain, damage to the central nervous system and other malformations of newborns.

A septum pellucida cyst is usually detected at birth. The transparent septum is a thin plate consisting of brain tissue. Between these plates there is a cavity resembling a gap. A septum pellucida cyst is a cavity filled with fluid. The cavity accumulates and begins to compress neighboring tissues and vessels.
A cyst of the septum pellucidum is detected on NSG in almost all premature infants. After some time it may disappear. If a septum pellucida cyst was detected immediately after birth, then in most cases no special drug therapy is prescribed.
If a cyst of the transparent septum occurs due to injury, inflammation or an infectious disease, immediate treatment is required. Associated symptoms may occur (head pain, visual and hearing impairment).

During NSG, which is carried out every month after detection of a disorder, the dynamics of the development and growth of the cyst of the transparent septum are determined. Depending on the growth rate and the cause of the cyst, further treatment will depend. Basically, drugs are prescribed that free up this brain cavity.
If any violations were discovered during the NSG, a decision may be made to medically disqualify all vaccinations. Vaccinations can worsen the condition, so after the examination you should visit a neurologist.
A neurologist interprets and clarifies the diagnosis. Only he can prescribe the correct treatment and observe the development of the disease over time. He will also prevent possible complications and prevent other disorders.

Many mothers get scared when their child is prescribed any tests and begin to believe that something is wrong with their baby. And a referral for neurosonography can even make you panic, because the doctor apparently suspects a pathology in the most incomprehensible part of the human body - the brain. Should I be afraid of such a procedure, what does it allow me to see and is it dangerous?

What is neurosonography?

This is an ultrasound examination that allows you to evaluate the function and structure of the brain, correlate the sizes of its lobes and parts with standards, and also diagnose pathologies and birth defects.

The waves of an ultrasound machine cannot penetrate bone tissue, so this type of diagnostic test is prescribed for children up to one year old, while the holes in the skull have not yet fused. The specialist will gently move the sensor over your baby’s head, receiving the necessary information through the fontanelles.
There is no need to prepare for an ultrasound of the brain; the baby can even sleep during the procedure. The examination will take no more than ten minutes; your task is to hold the baby's head still.

Who is neurosonography indicated for?

In recent years, neurosonography has been prescribed to all infants to exclude the possibility of developing brain pathologies and to identify abnormalities and diseases. If any are detected, the neurologist will prescribe you appropriate therapy and repeat research to monitor the dynamics.
Ultrasound examination of the brain is strictly necessary for the following newborns:

premature and low birth weight infants;
infants injured during childbirth and suffering from oxygen deprivation;
newborns with an enlarged head size or a non-standard shaped skull;
children infected inside the womb;
newborns who have had seizures or are suspected of having developmental delays;
children with pathologies of other systems.

What does neurosonography help identify?

When performing an ultrasound examination, a specialist can see a number of pathologies:

Thickening and changes in the shape of the membranes of the brain are the first signs of meningitis. At first, this infectious disease does not manifest itself in any way, so it is important to identify signs and begin treatment as early as possible.
Brain hypoxia often develops in premature infants with undeveloped lungs. Having seen the lack of oxygen in the tissues, the doctor will help avoid the death of nerve cells.
cysts and tumors compress areas of the brain and lead to epileptic seizures. Having identified their presence in time, you can help the child with therapy selected by a neurologist.
aneurysms can be detected in the vessels - thickenings that disrupt proper blood flow and threaten the occurrence of hemorrhages.
altered contours and sizes of the ventricles of the brain may indicate the formation of cysts, tumors inside them, as well as the presence of and.

By identifying dangerous diseases at an early stage and immediately starting their treatment, you will avoid delays in your baby’s development.
As mentioned above, neurosonography allows specialists to assess the ratio of the lobes of the baby’s brain, learn about anomalies of its development, the presence of cysts, hemorrhages and serious diseases. If detected early, many problems can be corrected.

If your baby has any problems, there is no need to be too upset. With the results of the examination, you should go to a neurologist who, based on the data from the diagnostic protocol, will prescribe appropriate therapy for you.

The sooner you start taking medications, the faster your baby will recover and the disease will pass without consequences. It is important to completely trust the neurologist and strictly follow his instructions, because the brain is responsible for the development of the baby, any deviation in its functionality can have serious and even tragic consequences. Even if the instructions for the medicine describe many terrible side effects, this is not a reason not to start taking them, the described reactions will not necessarily appear in your baby.

Any treatment is a partnership between the doctor and the patient; trust the doctor and consult with him.

Is neurosonography harmful for a baby?

For a long time, there was an opinion among the population that ultrasound examination procedures were harmful. Many expectant mothers refused to do an ultrasound during pregnancy, citing the fact that they did not want to “irradiate the child.” In fact Diagnostics using ultrasound is the most harmless research method.

Its action is based on the emission of high frequency sound waves. They are reflected from the surface, and the analyzed data in the form of a picture is displayed on the monitor. In living nature, bats and dolphins orient themselves in space in a similar way—by emitting ultrasound and analyzing the time of its reflection from obstacles. But you’re not afraid of exposing your child to radiation when visiting the dolphinarium, are you? Then why be afraid of a harmless, but such an important diagnostic procedure as neurosonography?

Neurosonography is a study of the brain of children in the first year of life using ultrasound. This diagnostic method is completely painless and not dangerous, therefore it is widely used in newborns. Indications for neurosonography include prematurity, intrauterine infection, birth injuries and many other conditions in which the structures of the central nervous system (CNS) may be damaged.

Features of neurosonography

It is a highly informative method for studying almost all organs. Ultrasound cannot only study bones and anatomical structures that contain air. In addition, due to the fact that the human skull consists of dense bone tissue that does not transmit ultrasound waves, certain difficulties arise with ultrasound of the brain. However, for children under one year old this is not a problem: their skull has holes through which the main organ of the central nervous system can be easily examined.

Neurosonography is performed through the large fontanelle - this is the main access. If it is necessary to examine certain structures of the brain in more detail, the doctor can use additional accesses: the temporal region, in which the bone has the smallest thickness, the foramen magnum, and the antero- and posterolateral fontanelles.

After a year, it is already more difficult to examine the brain using ultrasound (transcranial ultrasound has much less information), so young patients have to do other studies.

Who is neurosonography indicated for?

Due to the fact that neurosonography is an accessible, safe and highly informative diagnostic method, it is advisable for all newborn children to undergo it. There are several reasons for this:

High sensitivity of the brain to the influence of negative factors. Neither parents nor doctors can be absolutely sure that the child does not have any organic changes in the nervous system, since they do not appear immediately.
The need to identify brain pathologies as soon as possible. It is believed that up to a year, the child and doctors have an “open therapeutic window” that allows for the correction of detected neurological disorders. At this age, the brain is most plastic and capable of recovery. Therefore, the sooner treatment is started, the greater the likelihood that the most unpleasant consequences of negative effects on the central nervous system can be avoided.

That is, if a doctor in a maternity hospital or clinic recommends undergoing an ultrasound examination, you should not refuse. There will be no harm or discomfort from this procedure for the baby; children tolerate it absolutely normally - many do not even wake up during the examination.

However, in some situations, parents do not have to think twice, since neurosonography is a mandatory test for their children. Indications for its implementation are:

The child is in serious condition requiring resuscitation.
Transferred.
Intrauterine infection.
Birth trauma.
The use of obstetric aids during childbirth (for example, forceps, removing the baby from the mother’s birth canal by the pelvic end).
Developmental defects.
Unusual shape of the newborn's head or face.
Low baby weight at birth (intrauterine malnutrition).
The appearance of any neurological symptoms.

Pathologies diagnosed using neurosonography

Neurosonography is a very effective diagnostic method. With its help, it is possible to identify pathological changes in the vascular bed, the ventricular system, and brain structures (cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum, brainstem, etc.). However, there are diseases in which disorders occur at the cellular or gene level, so they cannot be detected with conventional ultrasound or any other instrumental examination. Likewise, an abnormal neurosonographic picture is not always accompanied by clinical symptoms. All this confirms the need to evaluate a complex of all data when making a diagnosis: the results of a neurological examination and information obtained during ultrasound scanning or other research methods.

Let's look at the diseases that are most often diagnosed in children using neurosonography.

Choroid plexus cysts is a fairly common ultrasound finding that is very frightening for parents. In fact, these cysts form in almost all children during intrauterine development; in most newborns they simply disappear before birth. This pathology does not require treatment and goes away on its own without causing any clinical symptoms.

Arachnoid cysts– a malformation of the arachnoid membrane of the brain. The location and size of such cysts are very variable. Small formations (up to 2-3 cm), as a rule, do not bother patients, but larger cysts can compress the structures of the brain and thereby provoke various neurological disorders. Another feature of such cysts is their tendency to grow, that is, an initially small cyst can increase over time. Due to this arachnoid cysts require serious medical supervision and mandatory treatment.

Hypertensive syndrome– . All structures of the brain are washed by cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid is produced by the choroid plexuses and circulates in the ventricular system and subarachnoid space. If an obstruction occurs in the path of the cerebrospinal fluid (for example, a hematoma or a large cyst), the pressure inside the skull increases and various neurological symptoms occur.

Hydrocephalus ()– a pathology in which too much cerebrospinal fluid is formed and accumulates in the ventricles and subarachnoid space, as a result of which the cerebrospinal fluid spaces expand. Patients with this pathology require serious treatment (usually surgery).

Hemorrhage – one of the most severe brain pathologies. Hemorrhages in the brain are intraventricular and parenchymal. Both are dangerous. The occurrence of hemorrhages is most typical for premature infants, especially very premature infants. Clinical manifestations and prognosis for the child’s future life depend on the degree of hemorrhage. In the first degree, both the baby and the parents can “get off with a slight fright,” but more severe hemorrhages almost always leave behind consequences - various neurological disorders. After the resorption of large intracerebral hematomas, porencephalic cysts form in place of the nervous tissue, and accordingly the affected area of the brain loses its functionality.

Separately allocate subarachnoid, subdural and epidural hematomas– localized under or above the membranes of the brain. They most often occur as a result of birth injuries and blood clotting disorders in the child. The prognosis for patients depends on how much blood has accumulated. Small hemorrhages resolve without a trace, large ones also gradually resolve, but manage to exert their detrimental compressive effect on the nerve structures.

Hypoxic-ischemic brain damage– damage caused by a lack of oxygen that occurs in utero, during childbirth and after childbirth. Mild hypoxic damage requires only monitoring the newborn over time (repeated neurosonography is required, etc.) and passes without leaving any undesirable health consequences. But in more severe cases, the death of nerve cells occurs with the formation of zones of leukomalacia. For premature babies, ischemic damage to the central areas of the brain (located near the ventricles) is most typical, its consequence is periventricular leukomalacia. In full-term babies, the most vulnerable areas are near the cerebral cortex and the cortex.

In addition to all of the above, ultrasound can detect infectious and inflammatory processes brain and its membranes, as well as congenital anomalies brain structures (for example, underdevelopment of one of the hemispheres, etc.).

How the research works

To conduct neurosonography, the child is placed on the couch, and the mother can be nearby at this moment and hold the baby. It is advisable that nothing bothers the child during the examination (that is, he should be dry and not hungry). For premature babies in an incubator, neurosonography can be performed directly in the intensive care unit. Such a study does not in any way affect the baby’s well-being and does not interfere with the ongoing treatment.

Neurosonography (NSG) has become a real revolutionary revolution in the field of studying brain pathologies in newborns. The method is informative and safe - exactly what is so necessary for diagnosing children in the first years of life. This special ultrasound helps to assess the size and structure of the components of the brain, in time to see the presence of pathological changes, whether congenital or resulting from birth trauma.

The term is derived from three foreign words: Latin sonus (sound), as well as Greek neuron (nerve) and grapho (write). The root of the word indicates the principle of operation of the method: ultrasound penetrates soft tissues, but is reflected from compactions and inhomogeneous parts. Therefore, the examination is ideal for babies in the first year of life, because only in their skull there are “windows” for the procedure - fontanelles.

Neurosonography of newborns is done through cartilaginous areas that have not yet ossified, called fontanelles, of which there are four in a little person. The brain is examined through the largest of them - the anterior one, located at the junction of the frontal and parietal bones. It is most suitable, since it closes closer to one and a half years and is quite wide.

Direct indications for ultrasound of the brain in a newborn

It is advisable for every baby to undergo a similar examination at the age of 1-2 months. It is as important as ultrasound of the hip joints and heart, and is often included in the screening program for examining newborns.

Unovergrown fontanelles make it possible to carry out the procedure for children up to 1.5-2 years old

However, there are specific indications for which neurosonography is mandatory. Among them are the following:

prematurity;
labor was accompanied by problems: rapid or protracted labor, malpresentation of the fetus, use of obstetric aids, injuries during childbirth;
fetal hypoxia (prolonged oxygen starvation), asphyxia during childbirth;
during the prenatal period, infections were suffered or fetal pathology was detected;
birth by caesarean section;
Apgar score 7 or less;
Rh incompatibility of the newborn with the mother;
the fontanel sinks or protrudes;
there are concerns about the presence of chromosomal pathologies.

Indications for brain ultrasound in infants at 1, 3 or 6 months

It happens that the ultrasound picture at the age of 1 month is within the normal range, but after 2-3 months the indicators become worse, since not all brain pathologies appear immediately.

In such cases, the indications for additional ultrasound examination will be as follows:

symptoms of neurological diseases: delayed psychomotor development, convulsive manifestations, muscle weakness (hypotonia) of the upper or lower extremities;
unusual or special structure of the facial skeleton;
rapidly increasing head size;
suspicion of intracranial pressure, cerebral palsy or hyperactive syndrome;
Apert syndrome (abnormal development of the skull);
past infectious diseases: meningitis, encephalitis;
suspicion of strabismus, rickets;
signs of epileptiform activity;
monitoring the development of premature babies.

Is it safe to do neurosonography?

Yes. Ultrasound of the brain is a safe procedure. There are no contraindications for it, and no side effects have been described. Ultrasound diagnostic devices are subject to strict safety controls.

How to prepare for research?

No special preparations are required. Just try to feed and drink your baby before the test so that he has no reason to be capricious. And if the baby falls asleep, this is not a problem. Neurosonography of newborns is done even in intensive care conditions; the baby is not taken out of the cuvette.

Neurosonography can be performed in almost any conditions

Bring a diaper with you; you will need to lay it on the couch and lay the baby down. Before an ultrasound, you should not use creams and ointments in the head area, even if they are used for medicinal purposes. This “layering” will negatively affect the visualization of brain structures due to poor contact of the sensor with the skin.

Carrying out neurosonography

The procedure itself is not much different from a regular ultrasound. The child is placed on the couch, and a special gel is applied to the examination site to ensure proper sliding of the sensor.

The doctor moves the sensor over the head with careful movements, without pressing. The ultrasonic impulse is sent to the receiving apparatus, where it is converted into electrical energy. After this, the image is displayed on the monitor.

Almost always, neurosonography is performed through the anterior fontanel, but in the first month it is possible to study through the occipital (at the base of the neck) and lateral fontanelles (in the temple area).

What pathologies can be identified during the examination?

Hydrocephalus. A condition when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulates in the ventricles of the brain, and the ventricles themselves stretch (expand). Characterized by rapid growth in head circumference. The disease requires treatment with regular monitoring of NSG dynamics.

Hypertension syndrome. Pathology in which intracranial pressure increases. This is usually due to birth injuries, tumors, cystic formations, hematomas - that is, everything that occupies a certain volume of the brain. But most often the reason is excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles, which is why the diagnosis basically sounds like hypertensive-hydrocephalic syndrome.

Cerebral ischemia. Occurs during persistent hypoxia, when parts of the brain die due to lack of oxygen. Typical for premature babies.

Choroid plexus cyst. Small neoplasms in the form of bubbles filled with cerebrospinal fluid. They only require observation, since they tend to resolve on their own.

The formation is located in the space of the arachnoid membrane. Unlike a choroid plexus cyst, it does not resolve on its own and therefore requires treatment.

Arachnoid cyst needs to be treated

Subependymal cyst. It is also a cavity filled with liquid. Occurs due to hemorrhage. Such formations are observed because both independent elimination and further growth are possible. The main thing is to remove the reason why the cyst arose, that is, treat ischemic lesions first and prevent subsequent hemorrhages.

Meningitis. Inflammation of the meninges caused by infection. With it, brain tissue thickens and becomes deformed.

Intracranial hematomas. These are hemorrhages into the ventricular cavity. They are common in premature babies with immature brains. However, when they are diagnosed in full-term babies, treatment is mandatory.

How to understand what the examination result is: decoding

After the examination, you will be given an A4 sheet with the results and indicators. It is important to remember that decoding plays a key role here and should only be carried out by an experienced, qualified neurologist.

The examination sheet describes the data obtained using ultrasound. Normally they will look something like this:

brain structures are symmetrical;
the medullary falx looks like a thin echogenic strip;
grooves and convolutions are clearly visualized;
the ventricles are symmetrical and homogeneous;
there is no fluid in the interhemispheric fissure;
there are no neoplasms;
vascular bundles are hyperechoic.

The research norms are described in numbers in the table. But parents don't have to remember them. If everything is in order, the conclusion will necessarily contain the inscription “no pathologies identified.”

If defects were found, they will also be described as a diagnosis. A breakdown of possible pathologies is presented in the paragraph above.

What to do if deviations are identified?

First of all, they go to a neurologist with the results of the examination. He determines the nature of the pathology, the degree of its severity and decides whether treatment is needed at this stage or whether observation is sufficient for now.

Sometimes it is advisable to repeat the study, since it is not always possible to objectively assess the parameters being studied. For example, a doctor may mistake any area where echogenicity is changed for pathology. In addition, the baby’s condition (for example, if he screamed) affects the accuracy of the results.

So, neurosonography is a modern method of ultrasound research and meets all safety requirements. It is a godsend for doctors because it allows them to see changes that they had previously only imagined. And successful treatment begins with an accurate diagnosis. Therefore, if you are offered to undergo such an examination, do not refuse.