Finding the right tests…
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Finding the right tests…
Sonography
USG CRANIUM images your baby's brain through the fontanelle, the soft spot on top of a newborn's skull where the bone hasn't closed yet. That gap gives sound waves a clear path in, which is exactly why this scan is used almost only in infants and not in older children or adults, whose closed skull blocks it. Doctors reach for it most often in babies born early, since bleeding inside the brain's fluid-filled spaces is a recognized risk of prematurity and often causes no obvious symptoms at first. It uses no ionizing radiation at all, which matters for a test that may be repeated several times over your baby's first weeks of life.
This scan checks your baby's brain for bleeding within the fluid-filled ventricles, and for any related buildup of fluid nearby. Your doctor looks at the extent of any bleeding found, since that shapes how closely your baby gets followed afterward.
A newborn's skull bones haven't fully joined yet, leaving small gaps called fontanelles, the soft spots you can feel on top of your baby's head. USG CRANIUM uses one of these spots as a window for sound waves to reach the brain directly, something that isn't possible once the skull fuses shut later in childhood.
Bleeding into the brain's fluid-filled ventricles, called intraventricular hemorrhage, is a well-documented risk for babies born early, and it happens more often the earlier a baby arrives. A large share of these bleeds cause no obvious symptoms, which is exactly why at-risk babies are screened on a schedule rather than only when something looks wrong.
Because this scan uses sound waves rather than X-rays, it carries no radiation exposure, which is part of why it's the tool used to screen a premature baby's brain repeatedly over the first weeks of life instead of a CT scan.
Most bleeding found this way is low-grade and doesn't need treatment on its own, though your doctor will explain what a repeat scan or closer follow-up means for your baby specifically.
A newborn's skull has small gaps called fontanelles that haven't closed yet, and sound waves can pass through these to reach the brain. Once the skull fuses later in childhood, that window closes and this scan no longer works the same way.
Yes. Ultrasound uses sound waves rather than X-rays, so it carries no radiation exposure, which matters for a scan that may be repeated several times in your baby's first weeks.
Bleeding inside the brain's fluid-filled spaces is a recognized risk of being born early, and a large share of these bleeds cause no obvious symptoms at first. That's why at-risk babies are screened on a schedule rather than only when something looks wrong.
This page is general information about the test, not medical advice. Your own report's reference ranges apply — please discuss your results with your doctor.
Most bleeding found this way is low-grade and doesn't need treatment on its own, though your baby may be followed with repeat scans. Your doctor will explain what the specific finding means for your baby.
Babies at higher risk, especially those born very early, are often screened on a schedule over the first weeks of life rather than with just one scan. Ask your doctor what's planned for your baby.
No. The fontanelle is simply used as a window for the sound waves to pass through, and using it this way carries no extra risk to your baby.
There's no single preparation that applies to every baby. Ask your doctor or the centre directly what they'd like you to do beforehand.