Frontiers in Pediatrics (May 2021)
Reference Charts for Neonatal Cranial Volume Based on 3D Laser Scanning to Monitor Head Growth
Abstract
Background: Postnatal brain growth is an important predictor of neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants. A new reliable proxy for brain volume is cranial volume, which can be measured routinely by 3-D laser scanning. The aim of this study was to develop reference charts for normal cranial volume in newborn infants at different gestational ages starting from late preterm for both sexes.Methods: Cross-sectional cohort study in a German university hospital, including singleton, clinically stable, neonates born after 34 weeks of gestation. Cranial volume was measured in the first week of life by a validated 3-D laser scanner. Cranial volume data was modeled to calculate percentile values by gestational age and birth weight and to develop cranial volume reference charts for girls and boys separately.Results: Of the 1,703 included infants, 846 (50%) were female. Birth weights ranged from 1,370 to 4,830 grams (median 3,370). Median cranial volume ranged from 320 [interquartile range (IQR) 294–347] ml at 34 weeks to 469 [IQR 442–496] ml at 42 weeks and was higher in boys than in girls.Conclusions: This study presents the first reference charts of cranial volume which can be used in clinical practice to monitor brain growth between 34 and 42 weeks gestation in infants.
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