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Neuropediatrics 2021; 52(03): 170-178
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1716899
Original Article

Cranial Ultrasound Is an Important Tool in the Recognition of Life-Threatening Infratentorial Hemorrhage in Newborns

A. van Steenis
1   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
,
M. Fumagalli
2   Dipartimento Donna-Bambino-Neonato, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, NICU, Milano, Italy
3   Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
,
M. C. Kruit
4   Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
,
C. M. P. C. D. Peeters-Scholte
5   Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
,
L. S. de Vries
1   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
6   Department of Neonatology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
,
S. J. Steggerda
1   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Abstract

Timely detection of severe infratentorial hemorrhage in neonates is crucial, especially in case of life-threatening brain stem compression and/or acute obstructive hydrocephalus, which need lifesaving neurosurgical intervention. Although the detection of infratentorial hemorrhage by ultrasound scanning is often considered as difficult, the use of additional acoustic windows and recognition of characteristic ultrasound features facilitate early diagnosis. In this case series, we report on newborns with severe, symptomatic infratentorial hemorrhage detected primarily by cranial ultrasound. We demonstrate the characteristic ultrasound features present in all cases and discuss how ultrasound diagnosis contributed to early diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords

ultrasound - infratentorial hemorrhage - term newborn


Publication History

Received: 04 April 2020

Accepted: 31 July 2020

Article published online:
14 December 2020

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
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