Evaluation of the development of neonatal corpus callosum and the influencing factors by ultrasonography

Abstract

Objective To analyze the influencing factors of the development of corpus callosum in newborns through monitoring the growth rate of the corpus callosum by ultrasonography. Methods The study included 97 cases of newborns who were admitted in Lanzhou University Second Hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) from April 2016 to December 2016. Of them, there were 54 premature infants (27-34 w) and 43 term infants. The sagittal length of corpus callosum was measured by ultrasonography per week at 0-6 w of age. The growth rate of corpus callosum was compared between preterm infants and term infants by independent sample t test. The relationships between gestational age, neonatal birth weight and corpus callosum growth rate were analyzed. Results (1) The sagittal length of the corpus callosum in newborns were correlated with gestational age and birth weight (r=0.57, 0.58). (2) The length of corpus callosum at 0 weeks, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks and 6 weeks after birth was lower than that of term infants (t=6.22, 6.51, 7.81, 8.87, 10.25, 11.64, all P 0.05). The growth rate of corpus callosum was significantly different between preterm and term infants at 2-6 weeks after birth (t=13.91, 14.76, 13.85, 12.21, all P<0.01). Conclusions The development of the corpus callosum is related to gestational age and birth weight. Cranial ultrasound can dynamically monitor the growth and development of the corpus callosum. Key words: Cranial ultrasound; Corpus callosum; Premature children; Brain injury