Book excerpt: Neonates may be affected by a wide variety of conditions, ranging from prematurity to congenital anomalies to acquired illnesses. Each of these vulnerable infants require a heightened level of evaluation and care, in which imaging plays a vital role. Multiple imaging examinations are often necessary to aid in diagnosis and help guide clinical management.The purpose of this book is to provide a better understanding of the basics of imaging and the language of radiology to aid clinicians in the evaluation of neonates. Neonatal Imaging places particular emphasis on radiography and sonography, two of the principle imaging modalities used in everyday neonatal care. A sound appreciation of why images look the way they do will help readers learn how to recognize abnormalities independently and gain a deeper understanding of the diagnostic workups of sick infants.Neonatal Imaging presents many excellent examples of imaging studies you can expect to see in a neonatal intensive care unit or a newborn nursery. Although we discuss basic imaging principles, this book is not an exhaustive review of the subject and does not cover many important topics that are beyond its scope. Therefore, be sure to consult your institution¿s radiologists to confirm any findings you discover, if you have questions regarding the appropriate utilization of imaging, and in complex cases.