Ultrasound of the brain

Ultrasound of the brain in children is a safe procedure. It is indicated to all newborns who require resuscitation, intensive care, premature infants with intrauterine hypoxia, intrauterine infection. Birth trauma, the use of special obstetric aids, large or excessively low fetal weight, neurological symptoms also refer to a pathology that requires mandatory ultrasound. Currently, this method is used in almost all newborns in order to exclude changes that may occur after one year (after the closure of the fontanel).

Ultrasound of the brain is based on the use of ultrasonic waves, which represent mechanical oscillations, characterized by a high frequency. They are completely harmless and painless. Therefore, this diagnostic procedure has no age restrictions. It can be done several times a day. Another advantage is an insignificant duration, which reaches five minutes, when evaluating the state of the blood flow it can reach twenty minutes.

Ultrasound of the brain does not require special preparation. The only condition is the patient's calm position, which is especially important for children.

This procedure is carried out under the condition of open fontanels of the head. The study is carried out through the anterior fontanel. Thick bones do not miss ultrasonic waves, which have a medium and high frequency, so it is impossible to spend ultrasound of the brain to children older than one year and adults.

Additional access through the anterolateral and posterolateral fontanel, scales of the temporal bone, which has a low thickness, a large occipital opening, can also be used in the study. They are used to study the structure of the posterior and central parts of the brain.

Diagnostic study allows you to recognize almost any changes in the structure of the organ, identify specific neoplasms. Ultrasound of the brain does not allow to determine pathological diseases associated with genetic, biochemical, hormonal disorders. The main diseases that allow to identify this method: cysts that are located in the vascular plexus, subependymal, in the arachnoid membrane, hydrocephalus, malformation of the organ, intracranial hemorrhages. In some cases, pathological conditions do not require treatment, but dynamic monitoring is necessary to exclude progression. These diseases include vascular plexus cysts. These formations are bubbles filled with liquid. This pathological condition does not have a marked clinical symptomatology, often passes without a trace.

Subependymal cysts occur after the hemorrhages in the given organ, as well as in its ischemia. Usually, formations disappear without a trace, but in some cases they can significantly increase, so it is important to have an ultrasound of the brain in infants for several months.

The most dangerous are subarachnoid cysts. They tend to spread throughout the arachnoid shell of the brain and usually do not resolve. The appearance and growth of cysts is not accompanied by the appearance of characteristic clinical symptoms.

With the help of ultrasound, almost all brain defects are diagnosed. If such changes are detected, an in-depth study of the child's organism is necessary, as well as careful monitoring of the neurologist.

However, the most dangerous pathological conditions are intracranial hemorrhages and hydrocephalus. They require immediate treatment and constant monitoring from a neurologist.