Quantification of Deep Gray Matter in Preterm Infants at Term-Equivalent Age Using Manual Volumetry of 3-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Images

Abstract

Manual volumetry confirms that preterm infants at term-equivalent age have reduced thalamic and lentiform volumes compared with controls. This was most marked among infants with supratentorial lesions but was also seen among those with nonfocal white matter abnormalities.

Interleukin-6 -174 and -572 Genotypes and the Volume of Deep Gray Matter in Preterm Infants

“…They showed, using manual volumetry and a 3-tesla MRI system, that volume reduction was most marked among infants with such supratentorial lesions as IVH, PVL, and hemorrhagic parenchymal infarction, but was also evident in infants with mild and moderate WM abnormalities. Even though the results of these studies (15,18,19) support each other, different MRI-analysis techniques make their comparison difficult. Boardman et al (19) suggested that either injury to the preoligodendrocyte or axon might cause disconnection between cortex and thalamus, and thus abnormal neuronal differentiation and organization (44).…”

“…Three recent reports have shown that preterm infants at term age have reduced deep gray matter volumes (15,18,19). Inder et al (15) used an automated tissue segmentation method to define cerebral tissue types, and demonstrated marked reduction in cortical and deep nuclear gray matter volume.…”

“…Several studies have shown smaller regional cerebral and cerebellar volumes in preterm infants imaged at term compared with term born infants (15)(16)(17)(18)(19). For example, preterm infants have been reported to have decreased volumes of the cortical gray matter (17) and deep nuclear gray matter (15,18,19).…”

“…For example, preterm infants have been reported to have decreased volumes of the cortical gray matter (17) and deep nuclear gray matter (15,18,19). The risk for reduced brain volumes has been associated with decreasing gestational age (15,16,19) and brain pathology (16,20 -22).…”

Relation between neuroradiological findings and upper limb function in hemiplegic cerebral palsy

“…Recently, it has been recognized that deep gray matter volume, including thalamus and basal ganglia, is reduced among preterm born children at term-equivalent age, and that this is most prominent among children with periventricular leukomalacia or haemorrhagic infarction. [25][26][27] On the other hand, it has been described by several authors that PVL lesions can also occur in term born. 6,24 This is supposed to be caused by silent intra-uterine brain damage.…”