ABSTRACT.Forty‐five high risk infants were examined in a neonatal nursery with a real‐time ultrasound scanner. The relevant normal and abnormal intracranial features are described. There was a good correlation betwen the site and size of the 12 intraventricular haemorrhages (IVH) found on ultrasound scanning with subsequent computerised axial tomography (CAT) scans and postmortem results. There was also close agreement between CAT and ultrasound scan assessment of ventricular size. Our data suggest that IVH occurs within the first 48 hours of life. In the light of our experience and because of its convenience and safety we have largely abandoned CAT scanning in favour of real‐time ultrasound scanning in the investigation of neonatal IVH and hydroce