The clinical presentation of preterm cerebellar haemorrhage

Ginette M Ecury-Goossen, Jeroen Dudink, Maarten Lequin, Monique Feijen-Roon, Sandra Horsch, Paul Govaert

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate clinical symptoms and findings on cranial ultrasound (CUS) in preterm infants with cerebellar haemorrhage through retrospective analysis of all preterm infants with a postnatal CUS or MRI diagnosis of cerebellar haemorrhage admitted in a tertiary care centre between January 2002 and June 2009. Fifteen infants were identified; median gestational age was 25 2/7 weeks and median birth weight 730 g. We discerned six types of haemorrhage: subarachnoid (n = 3), folial (n = 1), lobar (n = 9, of which 4 bilateral), giant lobar (n = 1, including vermis) and contusional (n = 1). Especially in infants with lobar cerebellar haemorrhage, CUS showed preceding or concurrent lateral ventricle dilatation, mostly without intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH). Thirteen infants suffered from notable, otherwise unexplained motor agitation in the days preceding the diagnosis. In conclusion, motor agitation may be a presenting symptom of cerebellar haemorrhage in preterm infants. Unexplained ventriculomegaly can be a first sign of cerebellar haemorrhage and should instigate sonographic exploration of the cerebellum.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1249-53
Number of pages5
JournalEuropean Journal of Pediatrics
Volume169
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

Keywords

  • Birth Weight
  • Cerebellar Diseases
  • Female
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature
  • Intracranial Hemorrhages
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors

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