Investigating cerebellar development in the preterm newborn: a combined volumetric and fibre tractography MRI study

© 2016 Dr. Lillian MatthewsPreterm birth is associated with a high risk for brain injury and extensive neurodevelopmental deficits. Cerebral brain lesions have long been considered to be the primary underlying neuropathology. There is now increasing recognition of cerebellar abnormality, particularly maturational deficits, as a complication of preterm birth, and mounting evidence for potential ‘cross-talk’ between the cerebrum and cerebellum. Structural and diffusion MRI analyses have the potential to provide key insights into cerebellar macrostructural and microstructural vulnerability within the preterm cerebellum. This thesis aimed to establish associations between varying degrees of prematurity and cerebellar macrostructural and microstructural vulnerability at term equivalent age, in relation to clinically important perinatal risk factors. Very preterm (