[Morphologic diagnosis of periventricular leukomalacia in newborn infants]

Periventricular leukomalacia (PL) which is one of the forms of ischemic affection of the brain in newborn babies is diagnosed predominantly in immature babies weighing 1501-2500 g dying after 5 days of life. Topography, macro- and microscopy of PL foci were studied on 58 cases. The lesions were found to be localized most frequently in the frontal section going through the initial part of posterior horns of the lateral ventricles of the brain. In the course of morphogenesis PL foci undergo three stages: (1) development of necrosis, (2) resorption, and (3) formation of glial scar or cyst. These stages have certain signs differentiating them from cerebral infarctions in adults.