Neurosonography of the brain of newborns. Adult secrets of the 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 structures of the brain that are inside the skull. In another way, this technique is called neurosonography of newborns; it can be used both as a preventive measure and to detect pathological processes. The peculiarity of this procedure is that it is possible only for infants, for children after a year, ultrasound of the vessels of the brain is not so informative.

What is neurosonography?

"Neurosonography" is translated from Greek as the study of nerve tissues, this type of diagnostics is quite young, but at the same time managed to prove its accuracy and effectiveness. Neurosonography involves the usual ultrasound scanning of the components of the infant's brain, which allows you to evaluate the parameters of internal tissues and correlate them with the norms. Deciphering the data will allow us to conclude whether the baby is healthy or there are pathologies of this organ in the baby. Most often, this study is of a screening nature, that is, it is prescribed without specific reasons, as a diagnostic procedure, for example, in difficult childbirth.

How safe is the procedure?

Since we are talking about newborn children, the issue of the safety of the procedure is in the first place, because it is very easy to harm the fragile body of the baby. Ten to fifteen years ago, a study of the brain of newly born children was 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 performed using the method of magnetic resonance therapy, while using anesthetics. It is easy 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 you 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 detecting birth injuries of the brain. Since the advent of neurosonography, infant mortality rates have decreased significantly, as it allows diagnosis and treatment to begin in the first days of a child's life.

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, often the birth process can go according to an unpredictable scenario. As statistics show, in almost 80% of deliveries over the past few years there were at least the most minor deviations, that is, the birth was not ideal.

Among the complications are often found: a protracted birth process, weak labor activity, entanglement of the baby with the umbilical cord, or too painful contractions. Depending on the situation, doctors may use stimulant drugs and droppers, pain injections, or even epidural anesthesia. In most cases, doctors are ready for an unexpected turn of events and the baby is born healthy. But to diagnose a child in such situations, an ultrasound of the brain is usually done to rule out possible birth injuries and pathologies.

Indications for the appointment of neurosonography

An ultrasound of the brain of a newborn is urgently done 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 greater than the norm, but the width of the chest is normal.
In the event that immediately after birth, a low Apgar score was set, below 7 points.
If the birth occurred much earlier than the term, and the newborn is considered premature.
Then, when there is a strange shape of the eyes, deformation of the fingers or auricles.
It is mandatory for newborns to prescribe an ultrasound of the vessels of the brain, 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 childbirth with complications, whether it is fetal hypoxia, umbilical cord entanglement, weak or rapid labor activity, the use of stimulants and painkillers.
This procedure is done to all children who were born using a vacuum or forceps.
In the event that a large amount of time has passed between the moment the waters break and the immediate birth of the child.
This type of diagnosis is indicated for all children who were born into the world by caesarean section.
If the baby vomits often.
If the neonatologist has suspicions about the presence of serious neurological diseases of varying severity.
In the case when there was perinatal brain damage in newborn children.
Then, when the Rh-conflict is found between the parents or between the mother and the baby.

Most often, ultrasound of the 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?

Ultrasound of the brain does not require any special preparation from the child or from the parents, it can be performed under any conditions. It does not matter for the study whether the child has an empty stomach, but he will behave more calmly 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 just born and a little older, the main condition is that they should not have time to close a large fontanel. It is located on the top of the head near the frontal bone and usually stays open until about a year old. If there is an urgent need, scanning can be carried out later through other, smaller fontanelles, but the signal will be less accurate, which means that decoding will take longer.

How is an ultrasound scan of the brain of a newborn performed?

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

The newborn is laid on the couch, the parents or the nurse fixes it 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 injected with any drugs and anesthesia, the only thing that is needed is to keep his head stationary.
A special gel is applied to the top of the head in the area of the large fontanel, 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 skin surface and the sensor.
A sensor is installed on the area of the head, which was lubricated with gel, the doctor leads it along the head, fixing 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 CSF system. Neurosonography is able to recognize even those pathologies that do not manifest themselves in any way, for example, internal hemorrhages, ischemic foci, cysts and tumors. Through this method, intracranial pressure can be detected. After this scan, the neonatologist decides on the possible discharge of the newborn home, makes a diagnosis if necessary, or confirms that the baby is healthy.

How are ultrasound results interpreted?

The interpretation of ultrasound data should be carried out by an experienced neonatologist or neurologist. The sizing looks like this:

Large tank from 3 to 6 mm.
The anterior horn of the lateral ventricle is 1 to 2 mm.
Subarachnoid space - up to a maximum of 3 mm.
Interhemispheric fissure - 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. With the help of wave reflection, the finished data is sent to the monitor. Ultrasound of the brain in infants is a mandatory procedure for a preventive examination. Thanks to the data obtained, it is possible to judge the structure of the brain and the functioning of the vascular system. The study is carried out quickly and painlessly, it does not pose any danger to the child.

NSG (neurosonography) allows you to determine violations in the functioning and structure of all brain structures, as well as evaluate the work 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, a pulsation is felt. 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 condition of the child, even if he cries, is naughty or calmly studies the situation. The procedure is carried out even when the child is sleeping.

What is the reason for this study

Ultrasound is a mandatory planned procedure in one month. In other cases, indications for NSG before the first month of life are the following cases:

In one month, mandatory NSG is carried out in the following cases:

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

For children older than one month, NSG is done according to 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 - the term of delivery, 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.
Furrows and convolutions have clear contours.
The absence of fluid in the interhemispheric fissure, and its dimensions do not exceed 3 mm.
The choroid plexuses of the ventricles are hyperechoic and homogeneous.
The size of the lateral ventricles is normal: anterior horns - up to 4 mm, occipital horns - 15 mm, body - up to 4 mm. Third and fourth ventricles - up to 4 mm.
The norm of a large tank is up to 10 mm.
There should be no seals, cysts and neoplasms.
Shells of the brain without changes.
The normal size of the subarachnoid space does not exceed 3 mm. If it is larger, while there is an increase in temperature and frequent regurgitation, then a disease such as meningitis can be suspected. If there are no concomitant 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, rickets. During hydrocephalus, the child has a large head, a swollen fontanel. This violation causes frequent headaches, mental and physical underdevelopment.

The contents of the lateral ventricles (right and left) is cerebrospinal fluid. With the help of special openings, 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 combines, after which it moves into the subarachnoid space. If such an outflow is disturbed for some reason, hydrocephalus occurs.
Asymmetry of the lateral ventricles (dilation) is observed in case of an increase in the amount of fluid. The disease can be diagnosed in children who were born prematurely, since the size of their lateral ventricles is larger.
If asymmetry of the lateral ventricles is detected on the NSG, the size is measured, 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, CNS lesions and other malformations of newborns.

A cyst of the septum pellucidum is usually detected from birth. The transparent septum is a thin plate, consisting of brain tissue. Between these plates is a cavity resembling a gap. A cyst of the transparent septum is a cavity inflamed with liquid. The cavity accumulates and begins to compress adjacent tissues and vessels.
A cyst of the transparent septum is found on the NSG in almost all premature babies. After a while, it may disappear. If a cyst of the transparent septum was detected immediately after birth, then in most cases no special drug therapy is prescribed.
In the event that a cyst of the transparent septum has arisen due to injury, inflammation or an infectious disease, immediate treatment is required. Associated symptoms (pain in the head, impaired vision and hearing) may occur.

During the NSG, which is carried out every month after the discovery of a violation, the dynamics of the development and growth of a cyst of the transparent septum is determined. Depending on the growth rate and the cause of the cyst, further treatment will depend. Basically, drugs are prescribed that release this cavity of the brain.
If any violations were found during the NSG, a decision on medical withdrawal of all vaccinations is possible. Vaccinations can worsen the condition, so after the examination, you need to visit a neurologist.
Deciphering and clarifying the diagnosis is carried out by a neurologist. Only he can prescribe the correct treatment and observe the development of the disease in dynamics. He will also prevent possible complications and prevent other violations.

Many mothers are frightened when their child is prescribed any kind of research and begin to believe that something is wrong with their baby. And a referral to neurosonography can even make you panic, because the doctor apparently suspects a pathology in the most incomprehensible part of the human body - the brain. Is it worth being afraid of such a procedure, what does it allow you to see and is it not dangerous?

What is neurosonography?

This is an ultrasound examination that allows you to evaluate the work and structure of the brain, correlate the size of its lobes and parts with standards, as well as diagnose pathologies and birth defects.

The waves of the ultrasound machine cannot penetrate the bone tissue, therefore this type of diagnostic study is prescribed for children up to a year old, while the holes in the skull have not yet grown together. The specialist will gently move the sensor along the head of your baby, 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 study will take no more than ten minutes, your task is to keep 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 identify abnormalities and diseases. If any are found, the neurologist will prescribe you the appropriate therapy and re-examination to control the dynamics.
An ultrasound examination of the brain is strictly required for the following newborns:

premature babies and underweight babies;
infants injured during childbirth, undergoing oxygen starvation;
newborns with an increased head size or a non-standard skull shape;
children infected inside the womb;
newborns who have had convulsions or have a suspicion of developmental delay;
children with pathologies of other systems.

What helps to reveal neurosonography?

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

thickening and reshaping of the meninges are the first signs of meningitis. At first, this infectious disease does not manifest itself in any way, so it is important to get the signs as early as possible and start treatment.
cerebral hypoxia often develops in premature infants with underdeveloped lungs. Seeing the lack of oxygen in the tissues, the doctor will help to avoid the death of nerve cells.
cysts and tumors compress areas of the brain, leading to epileptic seizures. By identifying their presence in time, you can help the child with a therapy selected by a neurologist.
in the vessels, aneurysms can be detected - 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 to treat them, you will avoid delaying the development of your baby.
As mentioned above, neurosonography allows specialists to assess the ratio of the proportions of the baby's brain, learn about abnormalities in its development, the presence of cysts, hemorrhages and serious diseases. With timely detection, many problems can be corrected.

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

The sooner you start taking medication, the faster your baby will recover, and the disease will pass without consequences. It is important to fully trust the neurologist and strictly follow his prescriptions, because the brain is responsible for the development of the baby, any deviation in its functionality can result in serious and even tragic consequences. Even if the instructions for the medicine describe a lot of 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 a doctor and a patient, trust the doctor and consult with him.

Is neurosonography harmful to a baby?

For a long time, there was an opinion among the population about the harmfulness of the ultrasound procedure. Many expectant mothers refused to do ultrasound during pregnancy, referring to the fact that they do not want to "irradiate the child." In fact ultrasound diagnostics 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 is displayed as a picture on the monitor. In wildlife, bats and dolphins orient themselves in space in a similar way - emitting ultrasound and analyzing the time of its reflection from obstacles. But you are not afraid to irradiate a child when visiting a dolphinarium, are you? Then why be afraid of a harmless, but such an important diagnostic procedure as neurosonography?

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

Features of neurosonography

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

Neurosonography is performed through a large fontanel - 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 large occipital foramen, anterior and posterolateral fontanelles.

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

Who is neurosonography indicated for?

Due to the fact that neurosonography is an affordable, safe and highly informative diagnostic method, it is desirable for all newborns to undergo it. There are several reasons for this:

High sensitivity of the brain to the effects 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 detect pathologies of the brain 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 more likely it is 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 in a clinic recommends undergoing an ultrasound examination, you should not refuse. There will be no harm from this procedure and discomfort for the baby, children tolerate it absolutely normally - many do not even wake up during the study.

However, in some situations, parents do not have to think about it, since neurosonography is a mandatory study for their babies. Indications for its implementation are:

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

Pathologies that are diagnosed using neurosonography

Neurosonography is a very effective diagnostic method. It can be used to detect pathological changes in the vascular bed, ventricular system, brain structures (cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum, trunk, etc.). However, there are diseases in which disorders occur at the cellular or gene level, therefore, they cannot be detected with conventional ultrasound or any other instrumental examination. In the same way, an abnormal neurosonographic picture is not always accompanied by clinical symptoms. All this confirms the need for a diagnosis of assessment in the complex of all data: the results of a neurological examination, and information obtained during ultrasound scanning or other research methods.

Consider the diseases that are most often diagnosed in children using neurosonography.

Choroid plexus cysts- a fairly common ultrasound finding, which is very scary for parents. In fact, these cysts are formed in almost all children at the stage of intrauterine development, but in most newborns they disappear before birth. This pathology does not require treatment and passes on its own, without causing any clinical symptoms.

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

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

Hydrocephalus ()- a pathology in which too much liquor is formed and accumulated in the ventricles and subarachnoid space, as a result of which the cerebrospinal fluid spaces expand. Patients with such a pathology need serious treatment (usually surgical).

Hemorrhage – one of the most severe pathologies of the brain. Hemorrhages in the brain are intraventricular and parenchymal. Both are dangerous. The most typical occurrence of hemorrhages for premature babies, especially very premature. The clinical manifestation and prognosis for the future life of the child depends 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 consequences - various neurological disorders. After the resorption of large intracerebral hematomas, porencephalic cysts form in place of the nervous tissue, respectively, 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 occur most often due to birth trauma and bleeding disorders in a child. The prognosis for patients depends on how much blood has accumulated. Small hemorrhages dissolve without a trace, large ones also gradually dissolve, but they manage to exert their detrimental compressive effect on the nervous structures.

Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury- damage caused by a lack of oxygen that occurs in utero, during childbirth and after childbirth. A mild hypoxic lesion requires only follow-up of the newborn in dynamics (repeated neurosonography is necessary, etc.) and passes, leaving no undesirable consequences for health. But in more severe cases, the death of nerve cells occurs with the formation of leukomalacia zones. For premature babies, ischemic damage to the central regions of the brain (located near the ventricles) is most characteristic, its consequence is periventricular leukomalacia. In full-term children, 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 the brain and its membranes, as well as congenital anomalies brain structures (for example, underdevelopment of one of the hemispheres, etc.).

How is the study going

For neurosonography, the child is laid on the couch, at this moment the mother can be nearby and hold the baby. It is desirable that the child is not bothered by anything during the examination (that is, he must be dry and not hungry). Premature babies in an incubator can have neurosonography performed right in the intensive care unit. Such a study does not affect the well-being of the baby in any way and does not interfere with the ongoing treatment.

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

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

Neurosonography of newborns is done through cartilaginous areas that have not had time to ossify, called fontanelles, of which there are four in a little man. The brain is examined through the largest of them - the anterior, located at the junction of the frontal and parietal bones. It fits the best, as it closes closer to a year and a half and is quite wide.

Direct indications for ultrasound of the brain in a newborn

It is planned to undergo such an examination, preferably for every baby at the age of 1-2 months. It is as important as ultrasound of the hips and heart and is often included in the screening program for newborns.

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

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

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

Indications for ultrasound of the brain 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, and after 2-3 months the indicators become worse, since not all brain pathologies appear immediately.

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

symptoms of neurological diseases: delayed psychomotor development, convulsive manifestations, muscle weakness (hypotension) 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 cranium);
transferred infectious diseases: meningitis, encephalitis;
suspicion of strabismus, rickets;
signs of epileptiform activity;
developmental control of premature babies.

Is it safe to do neurosonography?

Yes. An 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 controls regarding safety issues.

How to prepare for research?

No special preparatory measures are required. Just try to feed and drink the baby before the study so that he does not have a reason to be capricious. And if the baby fell asleep, this is not a problem. Neurosonography of newborns is done even in intensive care, the baby is not taken out of the ditch.

Neurosonography can be performed in almost any conditions

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

Carrying out neurosonography

The procedure itself is not much different from a conventional ultrasound. The child is placed on the couch, a special gel is applied to the study site, which ensures proper glide of the sensor.

The doctor with careful movements, without pressure, drives the sensor over the head. An ultrasonic pulse is sent to the receiving apparatus, where it is converted into an electrical one. The image is then displayed on the monitor.

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

What pathologies can be detected during the study?

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

hypertensive syndrome. Pathology in which intracranial pressure increases. Usually the reason for this is birth trauma, tumors, cystic formations, hematomas - that is, everything that occupies a certain volume of the brain. But most often the reason is the excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles, and therefore the diagnosis basically sounds like a hypertensive-hydrocephalic syndrome.

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

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

Education is located in the space of the arachnoid membrane. Unlike a choroid plexus cyst, it does not resolve itself, therefore it requires treatment.

Arachnoid cyst needs to be treated

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

Meningitis. Inflammation of the meninges due to infection. With it, the brain tissue thickens and deforms.

Intracranial hematomas. These are hemorrhages in the cavity of the ventricles. In premature babies with an immature brain, they are common. However, when they are diagnosed in full-term babies, treatment is mandatory.

How to understand what the result of the survey is: transcript

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 with the help of ultrasound. Normally they will look something like this:

brain structures are symmetrical;
the cerebral crescent looks like a thin echogenic strip;
furrows and convolutions are clearly visualized;
the ventricles are symmetrical, homogeneous;
there is no fluid in the interhemispheric fissure;
neoplasms are absent;
vascular bundles are hyperechoic.

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

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

What to do if deviations are found?

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

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

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