Hemorrhagic Lesions of the Central Nervous System

This chapter focuses on the different types of intracranial hemorrhage that affect preterm and full-term infants. The most common type of intracranial hemorrhage in preterm infants is germinal matrix hemorrhage–intraventricular hemorrhage, whereas full-term infants are more likely to suffer from choroid plexus hemorrhage, subpial hemorrhage, and extra-axial hemorrhages. Advances in neonatal brain imaging, from the limited use of cranial ultrasound (cUS) and computed tomography (CT) in the early 1980s to the widespread application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) nowadays, have enabled a more precise diagnosis of smaller and subtler hemorrhagic lesions, as well as white matter injury and punctate cerebellar hemorrhages that are more prevalent in very preterm infants. This chapter also discusses the incidence, risk factors, and management of intracranial hemorrhage, including preventive strategies.