Periventricular leukomalacia in preterm children: assessment of grey and white matter and cerebrospinal fluid changes by MRI
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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
Mouse Models of Periventricular Leukomalacia
Published on: May 18, 2010
Loukia C Tzarouchi1, Loukas G Astrakas, Anastasia Zikou
1Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
Insights
Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) in preterm children is associated with increased grey matter (GM) volume in specific brain regions. This may indicate adaptive brain plasticity in response to white matter (WM) damage.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is a common form of brain injury in preterm infants.
- PVL primarily affects white matter (WM) but can lead to secondary grey matter (GM) changes.
- Brain plasticity mechanisms are crucial for understanding neurodevelopmental outcomes in affected children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify regional grey matter (GM) volumes in preterm children with PVL.
- To compare total grey matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volumes in PVL patients versus controls.
- To investigate potential indicators of brain plasticity in PVL.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM5) and Individual Brain Atlases Statistical Parametric Mapping (IBASPM) toolboxes for volumetric analysis.
- Analyzed three-dimensional T1-weighted MRI scans from ten preterm children with PVL and 46 matched preterm controls.
- Calculated volumes for 116 GM areas, total GM, WM, and CSF.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher GM volumes were observed in specific regions, including the frontal superior orbital gyrus, posterior cingulum, lingual gyrus, putamen, and thalamus in children with PVL.
- Children with PVL exhibited lower WM volume and higher CSF volume compared to controls.
- No significant differences were found in total GM volume or neocortex volume between groups.
Conclusions:
- Preterm children with PVL demonstrate regional increases in GM volume.
- These volumetric changes suggest enhanced brain plasticity, potentially through mechanisms like axonal sprouting and neuronal hypertrophy.
- Findings highlight the brain's adaptive capacity following white matter injury in preterm infants.
Background:
Brain plasticity in patients with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) may suggest grey matter (GM) changes.
Objective:
To assess the volume of 116 GM areas and total volume of GM, white matter (WM) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in preterm children with PVL, using the Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM5) and the Individual Brain Atlases Statistical Parametric Mapping (IBASPM) toolboxes.
Materials And Methods:
Ten preterm children (gestational age 31.7 +/- 4.2 weeks, corrected age 27.8 +/- 21.7 months) with PVL and 46 matched, preterm control subjects were studied using a three-dimensional T1-weighted sequence. Volumes were calculated using SPM5 and IBASPM.
Results:
GM volume in frontal superior orbital, posterior cingulum and lingual gyrus, the putamen and thalamus was significantly higher in children with PVL (3.6 +/- 0.6 cm(3), 2.0 +/- 0.5 cm(3), 9.7 +/- 1.7 cm(3), 2.5 +/- 0.6 cm(3), 2.6 +/- 0.9 cm(3), respectively) than in controls (3.1 +/- 0.7 cm(3), 1.5 +/- 0.2 cm(3), 8.2 +/- 1.3 cm(3), 1.7 +/- 1.4 cm(3), 1.8 +/- 0.4 cm(3), respectively). White matter volume was lower (182.1 +/- 40.5 cm(3)) and CSF volume was higher (300.8 +/- 56.2 cm(3)) in children with PVL than in controls (222.9 +/- 67.2 cm(3), 219.0 +/- 61.8 cm(3), respectively), P < 0.05. No significant difference was found in the total GM volume and the volume of neocortex.
Conclusion:
Preterm children with PVL show regional GM volume increase, possibly explained by axonal sprouting, neuronal hypertrophy and neurogenesis, which in turn may reflect brain plasticity.
