Developmental features of the neonatal brain: MR imaging. Part II. Ventricular size and extracerebral space.

Abstract

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with a 0.6-T magnet was performed on 51 neonates, aged 29-42 weeks postconception. In 45 neonates, the ventricular/brain ratio (V/B) at the level of the frontal horns and midbody of the lateral ventricles ranged from 0.26 to 0.34. In six other infants a V/B of 0.36 or greater was associated with either cerebral atrophy or obstructive hydrocephalus. The width of the extracerebral space measured along specified points varied little in the neonatal period and ranged from 0 to 4 mm in 48 infants. Extracerebral space widths of 5-6 mm were seen in three other infants with severe asphyxia. Prominence of the subarachnoid space overlying the posterior parietal lobes is normal in neonates and should not be confused with cerebral atrophy. The authors conclude that V/B ratios of 0.26-0.34 and extracerebral space widths of 0-4 mm represent the normal range, and that neonates whose measurements exceed these values should be followed up.

Neuroimaging and Neurodevelopmental Outcome in Extremely Preterm Infants

“…17 A composite adverse finding on early CUS was defined as presence of grade III or IV ICH 18 or cystic periventricular leukomalacia (cPVL) on either or both sides. A composite adverse finding on late CUS was defined as cPVL, or porencephalic cyst, or moderate-to-severe ventricular enlargement (VE, with moderate and severe VE defined as ventricular-to-brain ratio of 1:3 to 2:3 and .2:3, respectively) 19,20 on either or both sides, or shunt. For all CUS, interobserver reliability between central readers demonstrated k = 0.75 for early CUS adverse finding, and k = 0.88 for late CUS adverse finding.…”

A novel index in healthy infants and children — subarachnoid space: ventricle ratio

“…SAS measurements varies according to the method used in the studies [11]. In studies on healthy children, SAS was found as 1.9-5.7 mm [4,5,14].…”

“…Subarachnoid space (SAS) can be assessed by various imaging modalities, including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography (US) [5,6,8,9,[11][12][13]. US is the method of choice and most commonly used modality [9].…”

Pediatric MRI Brain: Normal or abnormal, that is the question.

“…It is often challenging for the reporting radiologist to define the limit between normal and enlarged subarachnoid spaces. However, a cranio-cortical width of more than 10mm is generally considered pathological [31,32]. Most believe that this condition is a result of immature arachnoid villi that are unable to keep up with the rate of CSF production [33].…”