Authors: Lara M Leijser Lishya Liauw Sylvia Veen Inge P de Boer Frans J Walther Gerda van WezelMeijler
Publish Date: 2008/06/11
Volume: 50, Issue: 9, Pages: 799-
Abstract
Periventricular white matter WM echodensities frequently seen in preterm infants can be associated with suboptimal neurodevelopment Major WM injury is well detected on cranial ultrasound cUS cUS seems less sensitive for diffuse or more subtle WM injury Our aim was to assess the value of cUS and magnetic resonance imaging MRI for evaluating WM changes and the predictive value of cUS and/or MRI findings for neurodevelopmental outcome in very preterm infants with normal to severely abnormal WM on sequential highquality cUSForty preterm infants were studied outcome data were available in 32 WM changes on sequential cUS were predictive of WM changes on MRI Severely abnormal WM on cUS/MRI was predictive of adverse outcome and normal–mildly abnormal WM of favorable outcome Moderately abnormal WM on cUS/MRI was associated with variable outcome Additional MRI slightly increased the predictive value of cUS in severe WM changesSequential cUS in preterm infants is reliable for detecting WM changes and predicting favorable and severely abnormal outcome Conventional and diffusionweighted MRI sequences before term equivalent age in very preterm infants suggested on cUS to have mild to moderately abnormal WM do not seem to be warranted
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