OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare imaging methods and clinical findings of cerebral venous thrombosis in four full-term neonates without brain damage, admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten-year review of four cases diagnosed with cerebral venous thrombosis by transfontanellar ultrasonography associated with Doppler fluxometry and confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance angiography in correlation with clinical findings and neurological progression. RESULTS: Ultrasonography presented normal results in 75% of cases and magnetic resonance imaging in 100%. Doppler fluxometry and magnetic resonance angiography were abnormal in 100% of cases. Hypoxia (100%) and early seizures (100%) were predominant among clinical findings with evoked potential changes in 50% of cases. In the assessment of the neurodevelopment all the areas remained within normality parameters up to the conclusion of the present study. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography in association with Doppler can identify changes related to cerebral venous thrombosis and should be complemented with magnetic resonance imaging that is the gold standard for diagnosis in these cases.

Keywords: Cerebral venous thrombosis, Full-term neonates, Magnetic resonance imaging, Magnetic resonance angiography, Ultrasonography and Doppler

Retrospective study of two cases of atypically localized cerebral hemorrhage among 777 newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Casa de Saúde São José, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Clinical findings and imaging diagnoses were evaluated. The diagnostic effectiveness of ultrasonography was established by correlation with magnetic resonance imaging findings. Multifactorial etiology was observed, besides silent clinical presentation independently from localization. So far the neurological evaluation has satisfactorily progressed although the patients are still too young to allow a definite neurological evaluation.

Keywords: Brain, Newborn, Atypical hemorrhage, Posterior fossa hemorrhage, Ultrasonography, Magnetic resonance imaging