RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the insular development of small for gestational age (SGA) infants.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The insular area and circle were measured by cerebral ultrasonography in 92 SGA infants. The results were compared with those from 109 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The insular area and circle were positively correlated with the birth weight and gestational age in SGA infants. The insular area in SGA infants with a gestational age of either >37 weeks (451 +/- 92 mm2 vs 516 +/- 116 mm2; p<0.01) or < or = 34 weeks (248 +/- 78 mm2 vs 314 +/- 80 mm2; p<0.01) was significantly less than that in the AGA infants. The insular circle in SGA infants with a gestational age of >37 weeks was also significantly less than that in the AGA infants (92 +/- 11 mm vs 97 +/- 11 mm; p<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The insular development of SGA infants seems to be immature. The insular development may be assessed based on the insular area and circle measured by cerebral ultrasonography.</p>