Observation on brain structural changes in preterm infants and analysis of clinical risk factors based on 3D T1 structural MRI
10.13929/j.issn.1003-3289.2025.10.003
- VernacularTitle:基于3D MR T1结构像观察早产儿脑结构改变并分析其临床危险因素
- Author:
Mingwen YANG
1
;
Lin ZHANG
;
Zuozhen LAN
;
Ting PENG
;
Ying LIN
;
Jungang LIU
Author Information
1. 厦门市儿童医院(复旦大学附属儿科医院厦门医院)放射医学科,福建厦门 361006
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
infant,premature;
brain;
magnetic resonance imaging
- From:
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology
2025;41(10):1628-1632
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To observe brain structural changes in preterm infants and to analyze associated clinical risk factors based on 3D T1 structural MRI.Methods Brain 3D T1 structural MRI data of 82 preterm infants(preterm group)and 50 term infants(term group)were analyzed.Cortical morphology,including cortical thickness,surface area,sulcal depth and gyrification index were compared between groups.Spearman partial correlation analysis was used to explore the correlations of cortical structural changes and perinatal clinical variables.Results Compared with those in term group,increased cortical thickness of the right caudal middle frontal gyrus,reduced surface area of the left inferior parietal lobule,left precuneus and bilateral supramarginal gyrus,as well as decreased gyrification index in the right superior temporal gyrus,right lateral occipital gyrus,left inferior parietal lobule and left parahippocampal gyrus were observed in preterm group(all FDR corrected P<0.05).No significant difference of sulcal depth was found between groups(all P>0.05).Cortical surface area in bilateral supramarginal gyrus of preterm infant lowly-weakly negatively(rs=-0.327,-0.267,both P<0.05)correlated,while the gyrification index in left parahippocampal gyrus of preterm infant weakly and positively(rs=0.221,P=0.045)correlated with maternal gestational diabetes mellitus.The surface area of left inferior parietal lobule,left precuneus,left supramarginal gyrus and right supramarginal gyrus in preterm infant weakly and negatively correlated with maternal infection during pregnancy(rs=-0.284—-0.224,all P<0.05).Meanwhile,cortical thickness of the right caudal middle frontal gyrus and surface area of the right supramarginal gyrus in preterm infant lowly and negatively correlated with premature rupture of membranes(rs=-0.311,-0.301,both P<0.05).Conclusion 3D T1 structural MRI was useful for detecting abnormal cortical morphology of preterm infants.Maternal gestational diabetes,infection during pregnancy and premature rupture of membranes might be risk factors for abnormal brain structure in newborns.