The importance of transfontanelle ultrasound scans in the diagnosis of hydrocephalus

Objective: Evaluation of the trans-fontanelle ultrasound scans performance as a diagnosis and monitoring tool of the evolution of hydrocephalus in newborns and young babies.

Method and material: To demonstrate the importance of this imagistic method, a study has been developed on 62 patients clinically suspected of hydrocephaly which have been examined during June 2007– January 2008at the Radiology and Imagistic Service of the St. Mary Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children Iasi. For all the patients we have used an Esaote Megas GPX ultrasound, trans-fontanelle scans were performed with a convex echo sounder on a 5MHz frequency through the anterior fontanelle in order to examine the intracranial anatomy.

Results: Trans-fontanelle ultrasound scans are the best choice in evaluating the cerebral ventricular affection this being the preferred method in the diagnosis of hydrocephalus because the lateral ventricles have a high echo graphic identification rate, superior to the Computed Tomography, especially on premature babies. It also allows tracking the ventriculo-peritoneal drainage system evolution to oversee the proper function of the shunt and monitoring of complications. By correctly calibrating the parameters and due to the superior quality of the probes trans-fontanelle ultrasound scans has proven to have the sensibility and accuracy similar to the Computed Tomography in the hydrocephaly diagnosis, establishing itself as a quick, non-invasive and economical method.

Conclusions: Trans-fontanelle ultrasound scans imagistic can provide precise anatomical information, accomplishing a complete analysis both of the ventricular cerebral system and the majority of the cerebral and vascular structures, becoming an important tool to be considered in the diagnosis of hydrocephaly.