Table 2.
Scoring system of total maturation score to assess four parameters of cerebral maturation in newborns.
| Total maturation score (TMS) | Parameter | Score | Characteristic of T1 or 2-weighted images |
|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive maturation | Myelination (M) on T2-weighted images | M1 | Myelination evident in brainstem, cerebellar peduncle, inferior colliculus, cerebellar vermis |
| M2 | M1+ Subthalamic nuclei, globus pallidus, ventrolateral thalamus | ||
| M3 | M2+ Caudal portion of the posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC) | ||
| M4 | M3+ Complete PLIC | ||
| M5 | M4+ Optic radiation | ||
| M6 | M5+ Corona radiate | ||
| M7 | M6+ Anterior limb of internal capsule | ||
| Cortical infolding (C) on T1-weighted images | C1 | Frontal and occipital cortex completely smooth, insula wide open; thin bright cortical rim, generally low-intensity white matter (WM) | |
| C2 | Frontal cortex still very smooth, some sulci evident in occipital cortex; insula still wide with almost smooth internal surface; WM low intensity | ||
| C3 | Frontal and occipital cortex similar number of convolutions; frontal sulci still quite shallow; internal surface of insula more convoluted; WM still low intensity | ||
| C4 | Frontal and occipital cortex folded and rich in sulci; frontal sulci obvious along interhemispheric fissure; occipital WM separated into strands by deeper sulci; Insula more convoluted and infolded; WM still slightly low intensity | ||
| C5 | Frontal and occipital WM separated into strands by deeper sulci; insula completely infolded; WM still distinguishable from gray matter | ||
| C6 | As C5 but WM now isointense with gray matter | ||
| Progressive involution | Germinal matrix (G) on T2-weighted images | G1 | Matrix seen in posterior horn, at caudothalamic notch (CTN) and anterior horns of lateral ventricles |
| G2 | Matrix evident at CTN and anterior horns only | ||
| G3 | Matrix at anterior horns alone | ||
| G4 | No matrix evident | ||
| Bands of migrating glial cells (B) on T2-weighted images | B1 | Broad band with additional narrower bands | |
| B2 | Broad band alone | ||
| B3 | Narrow band alone | ||
| B4 | No bands seen |