Fatal newborn head enlargement: high resolution magnetic resonance imaging at 4.7 T
- J L Y Cheong1,
- C Hagmann1,
- J M Rennie1,
- N J Robertson1,
- E De Vita2,
- K W Chong3,
- R Scott4,
- S Roth5
- 1Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College London, UK
- 2Department of Medical Physics and Bio-Engineering, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London
- 3Radiology and Physics Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London
- 4Department of Histopathology, University College London
- 5Neonatal Unit, Barnet Hospital, Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, Barnet, Hertfordshire UK
- Correspondence to:
Dr Robertson
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College London, Perinatal Brain Repair Group, 86–96 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK; n.robertson{at}ucl.ac.uk
A male term infant (41+2 weeks gestational age), born in excellent condition after ventouse delivery, presented at 2 hours with pallor and metabolic acidosis (capillary blood sample pH 6.45, base excess −34). He rapidly became encephalopathic, developed disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, multiorgan failure, and an increasing head circumference (41 cm at presentation compared with 35 cm at birth). Despite aggressive blood product replacement and an attempt at draining the scalp haematoma, his condition deteriorated. Neurosurgical intervention was considered but felt inappropriate.
Magnetic resonance imaging was performed at 4.7 T …
