[Diagnosis and prognosis of periventricular leukomalacia]

Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is an important pathogenetic factor in cerebral palsy in premature infants. We studied 708 premature infants with gestational ages < 36 weeks, who had been admitted to the NICU of Matsudo City Hospital, examined by cranial ultrasonographic method repeatedly, and followed up for more than 1 year with cranial ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and CT scanning. We made a diagnostic protocol for PVL. All cystic lesions and periventricular echo densities (PVE) 3, and 14.9% of PVE 2 on ultrasonography were clinically diagnosed in PVL. Cranial MRI were consistent with clinical symptoms, and its complicated findings corresponded to the severity of PVL. This protocol was useful for the diagnosis of clinical PVL.