HEAD ULTRASOUND: UNSUSPECTED VENTRICULAR CONFIGURATIONS IN HEALTHY NEWBORN INFANTS

Abstract

Head ultrasound was performed on each of 53 full term healthy infants in order to determine the normal variation of ventricular appearance. All infants had good Apgar scores, normal physical examinations and normal neurological examinations.

Three types of configuration of the lateral ventricles were identified. In 44 infants (83%), "compressed" ventricles containing little or no cerebrospinal fluid were identified. In 8 infants (15%), the lateral ventricles were easily visible, containing clearly demonstrable CSF. In the remaining 9 infants (17%), the ventricles were distinctly asymmetric, six markedly. The choroid plexus in four of the six seemed irregular.

No correlation existed between the ventricular configuration and either maternal age and parity or the infant's age and weight. Nor was there a correlation between type of delivery and the presence or absence of ventricular asymmetry. A statistically significant correlation existed between type of delivery and the configuration of symmetrical lateral ventricles. 75% of infants with easily visible lateral ventricles were delivered by Cesarean section, while C-section accounted for only 34% of all deliveries. 94% of vaginally delivered infants had "compressed" ventricles. These findings support the conclusion that both asymmetric ventricles and "compressed" ventricles are normal variants in the healthy newborn population.

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