A contrastive study of cerebellum development in very premature and full-term infants

Abstract

ObjectiveTo compare the difference between full-term infants and very low birth weight (VLBW) premature infants at term equivalent for cerebellum development by cranial ultrasound in order to provide reference for monitoring the extrauterine development of cerebellum in VLBW premature infants. MethodsWith a study of 88 cases which were VLBW premature infants with gestational age less than 32 weeks were examined by cranial ultrasound at 40 weeks of corrected gestational age and 65 full-term infants at 40 weeks of gestational age were examined by cranial ultrasound at the day of birth. Comparing the difference between the two groupsfor transverse cerebellar diameter, cerebellar vermis height, anteroposterior vermis diameter, cerebellar vermis circumference and cerebellar vermis area. The difference of the above cerebellar indexes between 32 extremely premature infants with gestational age of less than 28 weeks and 56 premature infants with gestational age of greater than or equal to 28 weeks were compared as well. ResultsCompared to the premature infants at term equivalent age group and full-term infants group, the transverse cerebellar diameter in the premature infants at term equivalent age group was smaller than that in the full-term infants group (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the cerebellar vermis height, anteroposterior vermis diameter, cerebellar vermis circumference and cerebellar vermis area (P > 0.05). The transverse cerebellar diameter in the extremely premature infants group was smaller than that in VLBW premature infants group (P < 0.05). The difference between the two groups was also not statistically significant in the cerebellar vermis height, anteroposterior vermis diameter, cerebellar vermis circumference and cerebellar vermis area (P > 0.05). ConclusionThe growth of midline structure of the cerebellum was preserved in the premature infants at term equivalent age without supratentorial brain injury probably, and the growth of lateral structure of the cerebellum will be decreased, which is most vulnerable to insult following the factor of premature birth.