Cerebellar hemorrhage in very low birth weight premature infants: the advantage of the posterolateral fontanelle view.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of cerebellar hemorrhage in very low birth weight infants using the posterolateral fontanelle for ultrasound (US) examination.

METHODS

The study included 125 very low birth weight premature infants (defined as equal or less than 1500 grams at birth) hospitalized in the premature or neonatal intensive care departments that had at least one head US examination including both anterior and posterolateral fontanelle scans.

RESULTS

On US performed through the posterolateral fontanelle, four (3.2%) infants had echogenic posterior fossa lesions interpreted as hemorrhages. None of these lesions were initially or retrospectively observed through the standard anterior fontanelle scan. Two infants died at age 4 and 39 days, respectively. All survivors are being followed up in the hospital's neurodevelopment outpatient clinic.

CONCLUSIONS

Cerebellar hemorrhage may be overlooked on standard anterior fontanelle views. The posterolateral approach may assist in diagnosing these lesions.