Changes in the lateral ventricle with the head position: ultrasonographic observation.

Ultrasonographic examination was performed in 13 preterm, 10 normal term and 3 term brain-damaged infants to evaluate changes of the ventricular width with the head position. The lower side of the frontal horn was narrowed and the upper side dilated in all preterm and brain-damaged infants. These changes of the ventricular width may be due to gravity and soft brain. Therefore, it is very important to consider the transformation of the lateral ventricles with the head position when asymmetry of the lateral ventricle is identified in infants showing prematurity or brain damage.