Neonatal cranial ultrasound interpretation: a clinical audit
P R Reynoldsa, R C Daleb, F M Cowana
a Department of
Paediatrics, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN,
UK, b Department of Paediatric Neurology, Great Ormond
Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London, UK
Correspondence to: Dr Reynolds p.reynolds{at}ic.ac.uk
Accepted 20 September
2000
OBJECTIVE
To assess
the abilities of doctors to interpret neonatal cranial ultrasound scans.
DESIGN AND
SETTINGHigh resolution scanned images of six
important neonatal cranial ultrasound abnormalities were posted as a
questionnaire to the 59 neonatal units in the North and South Thames regions.
RESULTSForty two
questionnaires were returned (71%). Currently 56% of those
interpreting cranial ultrasound scans are neonatal registrars, 27% are
consultant paediatricians or neonatologists, and 17% are radiologists.
The response rate from registrars was excellent (97%), but it was poor
from consultant paediatric (38%) and radiological (40%) staff. The
mean accurate identification of cerebral abnormalities was only 59%
(range 45-71%). Only 44% of the neonatal registrars, compared with
nearly all the consultant staff, have had any formal training in
cranial ultrasonography.
CONCLUSIONSThe data
highlight the current accuracy of neonatal cranial ultrasound scan
reporting in the Greater London region and have important implications
for clinical services and research studies. Doctors who are responsible
for interpreting neonatal cranial ultrasound scans should have formal
training and supervision, and more formal reporting would improve and
maintain standards. The findings raise significant doubts about the
accuracy of local interpretation of cranial ultrasound scans in
multicentre research studies.
Keywords: neonatal; cranial; ultrasound scans; interpretation; reporting
© 2001 by Archives of Disease in Childhood
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