Cerebellar hemorrhages in very preterm infants: presence, involvement of the dentate nucleus, and cerebellar hypoplasia are associated with adverse cognitive outcomes

Question The cerebellum is important for cognition. Cerebellar hemorrhages are common in preterm infants, but the imaging features related to impaired cognition are not well studied. Findings Even small cerebellar hemorrhages affected cognition. Involvement of the dentate nucleus and moderate-to-severe cerebellar hypoplasia were identified as new structural risk factors for adverse cognition. Clinical relevance Cerebral MRI enables precise diagnosis of cerebellar hemorrhages and the detection of structural risk factors for adverse cognition like dentate nucleus involvement and cerebellar moderate-to-severe hypoplasia. This knowledge facilitates risk estimation, structured follow-up, and interventions after prematurity.