Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25899415›Full record

ArticleEuropean radiology2015

Posterior fossa abnormalities in high-risk term infants: comparison of ultrasound and MRI.

S J Steggerda, F T de Bruïne, V E H J Smits-Wintjens, P Verbon, F J Walther, G van Wezel-Meijler

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in European radiology, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Cerebellar Development and the Burden of Prematurity.Cerebellum (London, England) · 2025
    Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

S J SteggerdaDepartment of Neonatology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands, s.j.steggerda@lumc.nl.
F T de Bruïne
V E H J Smits-Wintjens
P Verbon
F J Walther
G van Wezel-Meijler

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesWe aimed to assess the characteristics of posterior fossa (PF) abnormalities in a cohort of high-risk term neonates, as well as the diagnostic performance of cranial ultrasound (CUS) with additional mastoid fontanelle (MF) views for the detection of these abnormalities, with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) being the reference standard.

methodsIn this retrospective study, 113 term neonates with CUS and subsequent MRI were included. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of routine CUS and CUS with MF views were calculated.

resultsPosterior fossa abnormalities were diagnosed on CUS in 46 of 113 infants. MRI confirmed these findings in 43 and showed additional abnormalities in 32 infants. The sensitivity and specificity of anterior fontanelle views for major PF abnormalities as seen on MRI were 16% and 99%. Adding MF views increased the sensitivity of US to 82%. The sensitivity and specificity of MF views for the detection of any (major or minor) PF abnormality were 57% and 95%. Especially acute hypoxic-ischemic injury and small subdural and punctate cerebellar haemorrhage remained undetected by CUS.

conclusionsPF abnormalities are frequent in high-risk term infants. MF-CUS enables early diagnosis of major PF abnormalities. We therefore advocate to perform MF-CUS in high-risk term neonates. KEY POINTS: • Posterior fossa abnormalities are a frequent finding in high-risk term infants. • Adding mastoid fontanelle views improves ultrasound detection of clinically relevant abnormalities. • Hypoxic-ischemic injury and small posterior fossa haemorrhages are better detected with MRI. • Cranial ultrasound examination should include mastoid fontanelle views in high-risk term neonates.

Indexed as

EchoencephalographyMagnetic Resonance ImagingCerebellar DiseasesCerebellumCohort StudiesCranial FontanellesFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornMaleReproducibility of ResultsRetrospective StudiesSensitivity and Specificity

Identifiers

PMID25899415
PMCPMC4529447

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