Does being born small-for-gestational-age affect cerebellar size in neonates?

OBJECTIVE

To investigate how cerebellar vermis height (CVH) and transverse cerebellar diameter (TCD) measurements are affected in SGA neonates.

METHODS

A total of 176 [88 SGA and 88 appropriate for gestational age (AGA)] neonates between 26 and 42 weeks of gestation were included. Midsagittal plane through the anterior fontanel and coronal plane through the left mastoid fontanel were used to measure CVH and TCD, respectively. CVH and TCD values were considered normal when they were ≥ 10th percentile, according to nomograms of AGA neonates.

RESULTS

Thirty-six asymmetric SGA neonates, 52 symmetric SGA neonates and their 88 gestational age-matched AGA controls were studied. The percentages of neonates with normal CVH and TCD in the symmetric SGA sub-group were significantly lower than those in the AGA and asymmetric SGA sub-groups. The percentages with normal CVH and TCD in the asymmetric SGA sub-group were also found to be low when compared with the AGA sub-group.

CONCLUSION

Growth and development of cerebellum may be less spared in SGA neonates. Further studies with larger series are needed in order to evaluate how being born SGA (symmetric and asymmetric) affects cerebellar size and also to see how these findings influence the neurocognitive outcomes of these infants at long-term follow-up.