Real-time neurosonography of the brain through calvarial defects with computed tomographic correlation.

Although real-time sonography is an excellent imaging modality for the neonatal brain, examination of the adult brain has been limited. Attempts to study the older subject through the ossified calvarium have resulted in poor quality and non-diagnostic images. Eighteen patients with various calvarial defects were examined for a variety of intracranial abnormalities. A mechanical sector scanner was used. Disease was clearly defined and accurate correlation with computed tomography resulted. Subjects without intracranial disease and patients with cerebral atrophy, porencephalic cysts, hydrocephalus, hematomas, and neoplasia were included in this study. The midline structures, ventricles and proximal midbrain structures were clearly visualized. This procedure appears useful to evaluate changes in the size of the ventricles and intracerebral masses in the postoperative patient.