Periventricular leukomalacia: radiologic diagnosis

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Radiology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is a common cause of neurological impairment in premature infants.
• Clinical signs include spastic diplegia or quadriplegia, often associated with premature birth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic utility of computed tomography (CT) scanning for periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) in late infancy and childhood.
• To correlate CT findings with clinical neurological abnormalities.

Main Methods:

• Study included fifteen infants and children with clinical evidence of PVL.
• Brain CT scans were analyzed for characteristic abnormalities in periventricular white matter and ventricles.

Main Results:

• CT scans showed reduced periventricular white matter, prominent sulci, and ventriculomegaly with irregular lateral ventricles.
• Abnormality patterns on CT correlated well with observed neurological deficits.
• CT scans beyond six months of age demonstrated a diagnostic pattern for PVL.

Conclusions:

• CT scanning is a valuable diagnostic tool for periventricular leukomalacia in late infancy and childhood.
• While ultrasonography is useful in early infancy, CT provides diagnostic insights later in life.