SONOGRAPHY OF NEONATAL PERIVENTRICULAR LEUKOMALACIA - RECENT EXPERIENCE WITH A 7.5-MHZ SCANNER

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 6  (5) , 781-785
Abstract
This study compared the relative efficacy of 5.0 and 7.5-MHz (high-resolution) transducers in the sonographic evaluation of cystic periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). Of 688 premature neonates evaluated by cranial sonography over a 4-yr period, 34 were diagnosed as having PVL. Of these 34 neonates, 17 were examined with both 5.0 and 7.5-MHz transducers. Fifty-two neonates with no evidence of PVL also were evaluated by sonography with the 2 different-frequency transducers to determine the normal appearance of the neonatal brain. Among the neonates with PVL, features of the disease that have not been observed with routine 5.0-MHz transducers were apparent with use of the 7.5-MHz transducer: 7.5-MHz scanning clearly identified small areas of cystic PVL in 3 (17.6%) of 17 neonates that were not visible using the lower resolution technique. The higher-resolution scanning also identified widening of the interhemispheric fissure by anechoic CSF and demonstrated the falx as a distinct structure. The latter 2 superficial abnormalities were identified in combination with enlargement of the lateral and 3rd ventricles, suggesting that diffuse cerebral atrophy accompanies PVL in most cases. The excellent near-field resolution of 7.5-MHz technology makes it the preferred method for the evaluation of PVL in the preterm neonate.