Neonatal Cranial Ultrasound: Advanced Techniques and Image Interpretation

Abstract

Neonatal cranial ultrasound has become an essential part of the routine care of neonates. Ultrasound is noninvasive, relatively inexpensive, and can be performed at the bedside. Addition of advanced ultrasound techniques such as use of high-frequency linear transducers, additional acoustic windows, and color and pulsed wave Doppler can significantly improve image quality and diagnostic accuracy of cranial ultrasound. This review will focus on these techniques and their application in the detection of central nervous system pathology in the high-risk preterm and term neonates.