Transfontanelle ultrasonography of infant brain: analysis of findings in 114 patients in Benin City, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES

To analyse the pattern of findings in sonographic examination of infant brains.

SETTING

Radiology Department of a University Teaching Hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The ultrasound request cards, reports and case notes of 114 consecutive term infants who underwent transfontanelle ultrasonography over a four-year period (between 1st May 2000 and 31st April 2004) were retrospectively analysed. The transfontanelle ultrasonographies were done using a two dimensional Sonoace 1500 (Medison Inc, South Korea 1995) ultrasound scanner fitted with 6.5 megahertz (MHz) curvilinear small head probe. The scans were done in both coronal and sagittal sections applying the standard techniques.

RESULT

Atotal of 114 infants were seen in the study period with male to female ratio of 1:1. Sixty eight patients (59.65%) presented within the first 2 months of age. Hydrocephalus 34 (29.04%), seizure disorders 16 (14.04%) and suspected intracranial bleeding 19 (16.67%) constituted over half of the presenting complaints. The result showed that 54 patients (47.37%) had normal findings, 43 (37.72%) had hydrocephalus of which in 25 (21.93%) it was communicating while in 18 (15.79%) it was non-communicating 6 (5.26%) had cephalohaematoma, 5 (4.39%) had encephalcoele, 4 (3.51%) had periventricular leukomalacia, and 2 (1.75%) had subgaleal cyst.

CONCLUSION

Transfontanelle ultrasonography is a useful technique for diagnosis of lesions within the infant brain. Hydrocephalus is the most frequent reason for request of transfontanelle ultrasound scan and also the most frequent abnormal finding.