Neurosonographic identification of ventricular asymmetry in premature infants

Routine head ultrasound scans have been performed on 185 consecutive infants weighing under 1500 g at birth. In 40 of these infants a significant difference in the size of the lateral ventricles was observed on one or more occasions. In 38 of these infants the left ventricle was larger than the right. The aetiology of this ventricular asymmetry is unknown. It is not believed to be due to germinal matrix or ventricular haemorrhage, hydrocephalus or the position of the infant at the time of scanning.