2019 Volume 34 Issue 1 Pages 125-129
[Purpose] An assessment of perinatal brain damage characteristics and prognosis was performed using early MRI findings. [Participants and Methods] Cranial MRIs of children receiving rehabilitation, taken at discharge from NICU, were visually assessed for abnormal lesions, and measured for the diameters of the regions, and the results were compared with clinical features. [Results] In all gestational age groups, abnormal findings in MRI were frequently found in cerebral white matter (WM). WM abnormality was found in all regions of the 22–26 gestational weeks (GW) group, the intermediate and periventricular regions of the 27–32 GW group, the intermediate region of the 33–36 GW group, and the subcortical region of the 37–40 GW group. Subcortical WM abnormality showed high incidences of autism spectrum disorder, quadriplegia and severe intellectual disability. Periventricular WM abnormality showed relatively high incidences of mild intellectual disability and spastic diplegia. [Conclusion] Cerebral WM abnormality is a characteristic of each gestational age group, and it is important to estimate prognosis in early infancy and start preventive rehabilitation.
