Recent advances in neonatology - new tasks for the radiologist

Modern neonatology comprises care for a growing number of infants with congenital abnormalities and an increasing number of premature born infants. The survival rates of premature infants have increased dramatically during the past decade. This increase in survival rates can be attributed to improved prenatal and obstetric management a nd to advances in neonatal intensive care medicine. Radiological support: Neonatology has become a pediatric subspeciality of its own resulting in the demand for an equally specialised radiological support. Therefore the availability of a children's radiologist for radiological and sonographic examinations is mandatory (24 hours a day) for optimal patient care on a neonatal intensive care unit. A good cooperation between radiologist and neonatologist in neonatal intensive care medicine is therefore warranted.