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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Mouse Models of Periventricular Leukomalacia
Published on: May 18, 2010
Periventricular leukomalacia: relationship between lateral ventricular volume on brain MR images and severity of
E R Melhem1, A H Hoon, J T Ferrucci
1Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21287-2182, USA. emelhem@rad.jhu.edu
Insights
Enlarged lateral ventricles in children with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) correlate with motor and cognitive deficits. This measurement can predict impairment severity before formal testing.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Pediatric Neurology
- Developmental Neuroscience
Background:
- Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is a common cause of cerebral palsy in premature infants.
- Motor and cognitive impairments are significant challenges for children with PVL.
- Predictive markers for clinical outcomes in PVL are crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the predictive value of lateral ventricular volume for motor and cognitive impairment in children with PVL.
- To determine if seizures influence the relationship between ventricular volume and impairment.
- To establish lateral ventricular volume as a quantitative outcome predictor.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of children with spastic cerebral palsy and PVL.
- Measurement of lateral ventricular volumes using 2D T2-weighted spin-echo MR images.
- Statistical comparison of ventricular volumes across groups with varying motor, cognitive, and seizure severities using ANOVA and Bonferroni t-tests.
Main Results:
- Significantly larger mean lateral ventricular volumes were observed in children with moderate to marked motor deficits compared to controls and mild deficit groups.
- All cognitive impairment groups showed significantly larger mean lateral ventricular volumes than control and no-cognitive-impairment groups.
- No significant difference in lateral ventricular volume was found between children with PVL with or without seizures.
Conclusions:
- Lateral ventricular volume serves as a reliable quantitative marker for clinical impairment severity in children with PVL.
- Increased lateral ventricular volume is a predictor of motor and cognitive deficits.
- This measurement offers a valuable tool for predicting clinical outcomes in young children with PVL prior to formal assessments.
Purpose:
To evaluate the utility of lateral ventricular volume measurements in predicting motor and cognitive impairment severity in children with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), with or without seizures.
Materials And Methods:
The charts of children with spastic cerebral palsy and PVL documented on brain magnetic resonance (MR) images were reviewed. Affected children were grouped by motor and cognitive impairment severity and seizure disorder. An age-matched control group was established. Lateral ventricular volumes were measured on two-dimensional T2-weighted spin-echo MR images. Analysis of variance was used to identify significant differences in mean lateral ventricular volume between groups. Paired analyses of differences were performed with the Bonferroni t method.
Results:
Thirty-six children (24 boys, 12 girls) with spastic cerebral palsy and PVL and 21 age-matched control subjects (14 boys, seven girls) were identified. Mean lateral ventricular volumes of the moderate and marked motor deficit groups were significantly larger than those of the control and mild motor deficit groups (F = 29.24; alpha = .01). Mean lateral ventricular volumes of all cognitive impairment groups were significantly larger than those of the control and no-cognitive-impairment groups (F = 21.101 alpha = .01). There was no difference in mean lateral ventricular volume between children with PVL with or without seizures.
Conclusion:
Lateral ventricular volume measurements can be used as quantitative markers of clinical impairment severity and as clinical outcome predictors before formal testing is possible.
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