Neonatal Cranial Ultrasonography

Gerda Meijler, MD, is pediatrician-neonatologist at the Isala Women-Children's Hospital, Zwolle, the Netherlands. She studied medicine at the University of Amsterdam. She did her pediatric and neonatology training respectively at the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, Utrecht and the Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam. After being a staff-neonatologist at the VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, where she did her PhD study on brain imaging in preterm neonates, she moved to the Leiden University Medical Center in 1999 where she was the principal investigator of the neonatal neuro-imaging group, one of its members being Sylke Steggerda. Together they have further improved neuro-imaging techniques and have introduced the routine use of alternative acoustic windows in cranial ultrasonography. This has resulted in optimizing ultrasound imaging of the neonatal cerebellum. Gerda teaches neonatal neuro-imaging, both in the Netherlands and abroad. Sylke Steggerda, MD, works as a staff member at the department of neonatology of the Leiden University Medical Center, with a special focus on neonatal neurology and neuroimaging. She performed her medical training at the University of Utrecht and worked as a resident in pediatric neurology at the Wilhelmina Childrens' Hospital in Utrecht. Afterwards she started a residency in pediatrics at the Leiden University Medical Center, where she also completed a sub specialization in neonatology. She performed her PhD study on the neonatal cerebellum in close collaboration with Gerda Meijler who was her research supervisor and is now training other young investigators in neonatal neurology. Sylke teaches neonatal neuro-imaging, both in The Netherlands and abroad.

PART I: The Cranial Ultrasound Procedure: Cranial Ultrasonography: Advantages.- Cranial Ultrasonography: Technical Aspects.- Performing Cranial Ultrasound Examinations.- Assessing Cranial Ultrasound Examinations.- Scoring Systems.- Limitations of Cranial Ultrasonography and Recommendations for MRI.- Maturational Changes of the Neonatal Brain.- Summary.- PART II: Ultrasound Anatomy of the Neonatal Brain: Coronal Planes.- Sagittal Planes.- Posterior Fontanel.- Temporal Window.- Mastoid Fontanel.

"The purpose is to teach clinicians about the techniques and findings of neonatal cranial ultrasound as a diagnostic tool for neonatal brain pathology. The goal is to help readers obtain the best images and then interpret them correctly. The anatomy of the brain is well depicted for novices and the features of each anatomic structure are shown in well-done illustrations according to the transducer's plane and acoustic window. The book is aimed at technicians, trainees, and readers of ultrasound examinations." (Jay P. Goldsmith, Doody's Book Reviews, June 14, 2019)