The association between ventricle ratio in preterm infants and motor development delay in childhood

Early prediction and timely intervention are particularly essential for high-risk preterm infants. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (bMRI) is frequently used alongside functional evaluations to improve predictions of developmental outcomes. This study aimed to assess voxel-based brain volumetry in extremely preterm infants using bMRI at term equivalent age (TEA) and investigate its association with developmental outcomes. From March 2016 to December 2019, high-risk preterm infants (birth weight < 1500g or gestational age < 32 weeks) with bMRI at TEA and follow-up developmental data assessed by Bayley-III were included. For bMRI volumetry, manual tracing and segmentation were performed on T1-weighted scans, and after smoothing, voxels were calculated for each brain segment. Forty-seven subjects were enrolled and categorized into typical/delayed motor groups. Results revealed a significant difference in ventricle size and ventricle ratio in bMRI at TEA between the groups. Even after controlling for other factors that could influence developmental outcomes, ventricle ratio emerged as a robust, single predictor for future motor development. This study suggests the potential clinical utility of bMRI volumetry in predicting motor development outcomes.