engleski

Volumetric parameters of thalamocortical development in term and preterm children

The development of pediatric care significantly increased the survival rate in premature born children, but preterm birth is still leading cause of cognitive impairment in childhood and is associated with cortical and deep gray matter abnormalities. Impairment of thalamic development is an important component of preterm brain injury and is often associated with cortical alterations. Measurements of thalamic and cortical volumetric parameters in term and preterm children can advance our understanding of normal perinatal brain development and also mechanisms of perintal brain injury. In this study, we analyzed correlation of thalamus volume with cortical thickness, area and volume in different lobes. All volumes were measured from 3T MR images using semi-automated and manual segmentation methods (MNI toolbox, Analyze 8.1).The study included premature children scanned at MR device twice, first at the corrected term age and than at the age of two years. As a control we used MRI scans of healthy children of the same age. Volumetric analysis showed difference between preterm and term children, and also between preterm children with neurological and mental aberrations and preterm children without neurological symptoms. Normal growth of thalamus and cortex is essential for normal development of premature children and early detection of growth disturbance increases the possibility of timely interventions in order to reduce subsequent neurological and psychological disorders.

thalamus ; MRI ; preterm children ; volumetric analysis

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