Neonatal Cranial Ultrasonography

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xi

   PDF

2. The Cranial Ultrasound Procedure

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

      PDF

   2. Cranial Ultrasonography: Advantages and Aims

      • Gerda Meijler

      Pages 3-6

   3. Cranial Ultrasonography: Technical Aspects

      • Gerda Meijler

      Pages 7-14

   4. Performing Cranial Ultrasound Examinations

      • Gerda Meijler

      Pages 15-33

   5. Assessing Cranial Ultrasound Examinations

      • Gerda Meijler

      Pages 35-56

   6. Timing of Ultrasound Examinations

      • Gerda Meijler

      Pages 57-73

   7. Scoring Systems

      • Gerda Meijler

      Pages 75-89

   8. Limitations of Cranial Ultrasonography and Recommendations for MRI

      • Gerda Meijler

      Pages 91-95

   9. Maturational Changes of the Neonatal Brain

      • Gerda Meijler

      Pages 97-110

   10. Summary

       • Gerda Meijler

       Pages 111-112

3. Ultrasound Anatomy of the Neonatal Brain

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 113-113

      PDF

   2. Coronal Planes

      • Gerda Meijler

      Pages 115-129

   3. Sagittal Planes

      • Gerda Meijler

      Pages 131-139

   4. Posterior Fontanel

      • Gerda Meijler

      Pages 141-145

   5. Temporal Window

      • Gerda Meijler

      Pages 147-150

   6. Mastoid Fontanel

      • Gerda Meijler

      Pages 151-155

4. Back Matter

   Pages 157-160

   PDF

Cranial ultrasonography is the most important, accessible, patient friendly, and cheapestneuroimaging technique on the neonatal ward. It provides important information on brain maturation in the (preterm) neonate and enables the detection of frequently occurring brain anomalies. In this second edition of Neonatal Cranial Ultrasonography, the focus is on the basics of the technique, from patient preparation through to screening strategies and the classification of abnormalities. Many new ultrasound images have been included to reflect the improvements in image quality since the first edition. Essential information is provided about both the procedure itself and the normal ultrasound anatomy. Standard technique is described and illustrated, but emphasis is also placed on the value of supplementary acoustic windows. The compact design of the book makes it an ideal and handy reference that will guide the novice but also provide useful information for the more experienced practitioner.

• Brain
• Brain Anatomy
• Brain maturation
• Cranial Ultrasonography
• Neonate

From the reviews of the second edition:

“This is an update of a 2007 book on the technical aspects of cranial ultrasonography in newborns. … Sonographic technicians, trainees, and radiologists or neonatal clinicians who are not specifically trained in neonatal cranial ultrasonography are the intended audience. … This is an excellent, relatively inexpensive guide for trainees or general radiologists and neonatologists who want to understand the essentials of neonatal cranial ultrasonography.” (Jay P. Goldsmith, Doody’s Book Reviews, June, 2013)

From the reviews:

"This is a practical guide to neonatal cranial ultrasonography … . The book is easy to read and has wonderful reproductions of cranial images … . The book is aimed at general radiologists or neonatologists who may be called upon to interpret neonatal cranial ultrasounds in the course of their practice. … be helpful to trainees and ultrasonography technicians. The author has an impressive list of publications in this area and the quality of this book is testimony to her expertise." (Jay P. Goldsmith, Doody's Review Service, February, 2008)

"The book focuses on the normal ultrasound appearance of the neonatal brain and how to obtain good-quality images. … The author has successfully produced an essential practical guide to neonatal cranial ultrasound. I anticipate that this compact, easy-to-read, well-illustrated book will become popular with radiology, neonatology and sonography trainees alike. I would recommend it to anyone who is learning the technique of neonatal cranial ultrasonography." (Sandra Butler, Neuroradiology, Vol. 50, 2008)

"This is a richly illustrated book that sets out the basics of head US from details regarding patient preparation and required probes to basic imaging parameters and standard imaging planes. … The new technologist who doesn’t have the opportunity to image neonates every daywould find this book very valuable. Students should find the anatomy and illustrations very helpful as orientation to this technique. I would recommend this book to every department that provides neonatal cranial sonography … ." (Brent Adler, Pediatric Radiology, Vol. 38, 2008)

• The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

  Gerda Meijler

Gerda Meijler is pediatrician-neonatologist. She studied medicine at the University of Amsterdam and the Academic Medical Center. She did her pediatric and neonatology training respectively at the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, Utrecht and the Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam. After being a staff-neonatologist at the VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, where she did her PhD study on brain imaging in preterm neonates, she moved to the Leiden University Medical Center in 1999. Since then her special interest is neonatal neurology and neuro-imaging. She is the principal investigator of the Leiden neonatal neuro-imaging group. This group is actively involved in research in this field and is known for its high quality neuro-imaging (both cranial ultrasound and MRI). Together with this group Gerda has further improved neuro-imaging techniques, both for clinical and research purposes and has introduced the routine use of alternative acoustic windows in cranial ultrasonography. This has resulted in optimizing ultrasound imaging of the neonatal cerebellum. Gerda teaches neonatal neuro-imaging, both in the Netherlands and abroad at several courses and congresses. Her research now mainly focuses on imaging of the neonatal cerebellum, brain imaging and injury in the preterm neonate and on applying advanced imaging techniques in neonates.   

After the summer of 2011 she will move to Toronto, where she will continue her work on neonatal neurology and neuro-imaging at the neonatal units of the Hospital for Sick Children and the Mount Sinaï Hospital.

Policies and ethics