Evaluation of infant cranial CT

The enlargement of the extracerebral space (ECS) observed on infant cranial CT scan was graded 5 stages, and its significance was evaluated. Follow-up study revealed that enlargement of ECS in normal infants is a transient phenomenon, which became greatest at 2 - 7 months old and almost disappeared after one year old. However, in infants with growth retardation, enlarged ECS was not recovered; all were graded higher than II degree at 2 years old, showing singnificant differences from normal infants. Studies of relationship among the incidence of ECS enlargement, the maturity, birth weight, and the symptoms revealed no consistant results. There were no differences between premature and nature infants. It was concluded that ECS enlargement may appear as a physiological change in infancy and that its changes with time and the degree of the enlargement at one year old can be an important index for the future growth. (Ueda, J.)