Association of cranial ultra sonography findings with intrauterine growth restriction in term neonates

Background: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a condition in which a fetus does not reach its full growth potential in utero. It is a significant contributor to perinatal morbidity and mortality. Cranial ultrasound (CU) is a non-invasive imaging technique used to assess brain structure and abnormalities in neonates, particularly affected by FGR or classified as small for gestational age (SGA). Aim was to determine the association between FGR and CU abnormalities (CUAs) in term neonates. Methods: It was a single centre, hospital-based, cross-sectional comparative observational study conducted in the level IIIA neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Shri Shishu Bhawan Hospital for Children and Newborn, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. A total of 194 neonates were selected for the study. Comparative analysis between the FGR and control groups was performed using chi-square tests for categorical variables and t-tests for continuous variables. Results: The present study observed a higher proportion of CUAs in term neonates with FGR (11.3%) compared to appropriate for gestational age (AGA) neonates 2.06% (p>0.5). Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) was more commonly observed among FGR neonates (14.3%) compared to AGA neonates 6.18% (p>0.05). The trend suggests that FGR may predispose neonates to a higher risk of periventricular white matter damage, even at term gestation. Conclusions: FGR has a substantial impact on neonatal brain development and increases the risk of neurodevelopmental complications. Early detection through CU screening and long-term follow-up for neurodevelopmental assessment are essential to improve outcomes in this high-risk population.