Congenital hemiparesis and periventricular leukomalacia: pathogenetic aspects on magnetic resonance imaging.

The authors report on the clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 41 children (29 term and 12 preterm) whose diagnosis of congenital hemiparesis was confirmed after the first year of life. Periventricular leukomalacia was the most predominant MRI finding (found in 15 term and eight preterm infants). The uniform pattern of lesions observed through MRI (without clear correlation with gestational age) suggests a common aetiopathogenesis in this subgroup. Comparison of these MR images with the periventricular leukomalacia observed in preterm children with spastic diplegia supports the thesis that ischaemia occurring between the 28th and 35th weeks of gestation could be the main cause.