Radiologic diagnosis of periventricular leukomalacia

Fifteen infants with clinical evidence of periventricular leukomalacia, i.e. spastic diplegia or quadriplegia and premature birth were studied. CT scans of the brain demonstrated: 1) reduction in quantity of periventricular white matter, 2) deep and prominent sulci which abutted the ventricles without interposed white matter and 3) ventriculomegaly with irregular outline of the lateral ventricles. The location and severity of abnormalities on CT scans correlated well with neurologic handicap and the known anatomic location of periventricular leukomalacia, thus demonstrating the diagnostic value of CT scanning for periventricular leukomalacia during later infancy.