Head growth in preterm infants: Correlation with magnetic resonance imaging and neurodevelopmental outcome

Abstract

Objective. Extremely preterm birth is associated with adverse neurodevelopmental sequelae. Head circumference has been used as a measure of brain growth. There are limited data relating head circumference to MRI. The purpose of this work was to establish the relationship between head circumference with brain MRI at term- equivalent age and to relate head circumference with neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years. Patients and Methods. Two hundred and twenty-seven preterm infants (birth weight of <1250g or <30 weeks' gestation) were recruited. Head circumference was measured at birth, term, and 2 years' corrected age, and z scores were computed. Microcephaly was defined as a head circumference ..