Question
The daughter was hospitalized for antenatal care due to placenta previa, and at 34+4 weeks, it was found that the umbilical cord was wrapped around the neck. Is the enlargement of the extracranial space a sign of brain development delay?
Answer
Poor brain development may not be a significant issue, but regardless, rehabilitation treatment should be initiated to promote brain recovery. Here is an article written by Dr. Yang Guanying of the First People’s Hospital of Foshan: A Brief Discussion on Infants’ “External Cerebral Edema.” We often encounter parents of infants with external trauma or ischemic hypoxic brain diseases who bring their child’s head CT or MR images for consultation in our department. Due to the symmetrical widening of the subarachnoid space in the frontal or frontal parietal area seen in the child’s head CT or MR images, they are diagnosed with subdural effusion, brain atrophy, or external cerebral edema, and they are very worried and scared. When we inquire about the child, there are often only minor scalp injuries or no symptoms at all.