Cranial ultrasonographic screening findings among healthy neonates and their association with neurodevelopmental outcomes

Abstract

To analyze the findings of cranial ultrasonographic screening in asymptomatic neonates and to assess the association between abnormal results and neurodevelopment. We retrospectively reviewed the cranial ultrasonographic screening results of healthy neonates born between 35 and 42 weeks gestation at our hospital from October 2011 to October 2018. In total, 11,681 neonates underwent cranial ultrasonographic screening during the study period, and 9666 (82.7%) had normal results. Of 2015 neonates with abnormal findings, 294 had more than two abnormalities. The most common minor findings were subependymal cysts (8.99%), choroid plexus cysts (2.43%), lenticulostriate vasculopathy (2.34%), frontal horn cysts (1.80%), and enlarged cisterna magna (1.04%). Then, 33 (0.28%) neonates had major abnormalities, including cerebral hemorrhage, periventricular heterotopia, focal cortical dysplasia, anomalies of the corpus callosum, and vascular malformation. Of 1334 neonates who underwent serial clinical evaluations, 76 (5.69%) had neurodevelopmental disorders, including developmental delay, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autistic spectrum disorder. The incidence rate of intracranial anomalies in healthy neonates was 17.3%, and about 5.69% had neurodevelopmental disorders. Cranial ultrasonographic screening has its own value in helping early detection of intracranial anomalies in healthy neonates, some of which have prognostic implications.