Clinical significance of isolated paraventricular cysts on cranial ultrasonography.

OBJECTIVES

Isolated paraventricular cysts detected on routine cranial ultrasonography in premature and full term neonates are often incidental findings. The aetiology and clinical significance of these lesions is uncertain. A case control study was designed to attempt to clarify the clinical significance of isolated paraventricular cysts in terms of growth and neurodevelopment.

METHODS

Ten infants with isolated paraventricular cysts on neonatal cranial ultrasonography were identified. These were matched with 10 control infants for sex, gestational age and birthweight. All infants were assessed at a corrected age of 18-31 months for growth and neurodevelopment. Two index infants and their controls were excluded from analysis of psychometric data as the neurodevelopmental assessment tools used were different.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference between the index and control groups in terms of growth, motor and psychometric assessment at follow up.

CONCLUSIONS

The study suggests that isolated paraventricular cysts detected on routine cranial ultrasonography have no prognostic significance. However the study involved a small sample size with limited power of study (power = 0.3). A larger prospective cohort study would help to clarify the clinical significance of this condition.