Cerebral hemorrhage refers to bleeding within the brain tissue or the spaces surrounding it. In neonatal medicine, cranial ultrasound is the primary screening tool for detecting hemorrhage in premature infants, who are at high risk for intraventricular hemorrhage, bleeding that originates in the germinal matrix and extends into the brain’s ventricular system. Fresh blood typically appears hyperechoic (bright) on ultrasound, and the hemorrhage is graded from I to IV based on its severity and extent. Serial cranial ultrasound examinations are performed in premature infants to monitor for the development of hemorrhage and its potential complications, including hydrocephalus and periventricular leukomalacia.
Sonography Term