Three-dimensional ultrasonographic imaging of the neonatal brain in high-risk neonates: Preliminary study

The aim of this investigation was to compare the utility of three-dimension al ultrasonography versus two-dimensional ultrasonography in imaging the ne onatal brain. Thirty patients in the neonatal intensive care unit underwent two-dimensional and three-dimensional ultrasonography. The resultant two- and three-dimensional images recorded on film and three-dimensional volumes (reviewed on a workstation) were evaluated independently. Comparable numbe rs of normal and abnormal studies were diagnosed by each modality. Axial im ages were considered useful in approximately 50% of three-dimensional cases . Image quality, overall and in the far-field, was rated higher on two-dime nsional images. Three-dimensional sonographic acquisition time in the neona tal intensive care unit (1.7 min +/- 0.7 standard deviation) was significan tly shorter than that for two-dimensional sonography (9.0 +/- 4.5 min). The total time for evaluation on the three-dimensional workstation (4.4 +/- 1. 1 min) was significantly less than that for two-dimensional images on film (10.6 +/- 4.7 min). In conclusion, three-dimensional ultrasonography is a p romising, diagnostically accurate, and efficient imaging tool for evaluatio n of the neonatal brain; however, visualization must improve before it can replace two-dimensional ultrasonography.