INTRACRANIAL  Ultrasound:

(NEONATAL (Newborn) or INFANT HEAD)

     INTRACRANIAL Ultrasound- is performed through the anterior fontanelle ( and sometimes through the posterior fontanelle) showing the contents within the skull, deep to the bone.

Reasons/ causes may include: Larger than normal foetal head, above the 90th percentile, ventriculomegaly, hydrocephalus (water on the brain), asymmetry of the cerebral hemispheres, tortuosity/ deviation of the mid-line falx , lesions/ tumors, chronic haematomas, or other abnormality may be seen during pregnancy ultrasound, and require further INTRACRANIAL examination/ follow-up after birth. Other causes may include genetic syndromes, and metabolic conditions.

Macrocephaly: The standard used to define macrocephaly:  head circumference is more than two standard deviations above average for their age. Or, their head is larger than the 98th percentile.

Microcephaly: in which a baby’s head is significantly smaller, often due to abnormal brain development.
Causes of microcephaly include poor nutrition, infections, or toxins.
Intellectually disabled infants with/ or without delay in speech, may occur. In severe cases, infants may exhibit involuntary muscle functions and seizures.
Ultrasound

Intracranial visibility will depend on the patency of the fontanelle,  the possible achievable plane angle of view, and the size and location of structures of interest. The advantages of using ultrasound is that it is relatively safe:-  there is no radiation used such as found in X-rays or CT scan (although these have their benefits).