Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of 70 children with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), examined between 1 year 2 months and 8 years of age (mean: 2 years 4 months of age), were analysed. Neurological assessments were made between 1 year 3 months and 15 years (mean: 4 years 9 months). The possible correlations between MRI findings and clinical profiles of PVL were investigated using three parameters of the MRI findings. The grade of ventriculomegaly correlated well with the severity of cerebral palsy (CP) but not with the severity of mental impairment. The grade of reduction of periventricular white matter correlated well with the severity of CP and mental impairment, and is the most reliable parameter for neurological prognosis. The degree of periventricular hyperintensity on T2-weighted images did not correlate well with severity of CP, but correlated to some degree with mental impairment. There was a significantly lower degree of periventricular hyperintensity in children at less than 28 weeks of gestation than at 28 or more weeks of gestation, but no significant difference in other parameters. The periventricular hyperintensity should be evaluated in view of the gestational age.
