Neonatal periventricular leukomalacia: diagnosis and monitoring by real-time ultrasound.

Periventricular leukomalacia is a form of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy developing in preterm babies. During the last year among 387 sonographically screened neonates 11 periventricular neonatal leukomalacia cases were found. Analysing their cases authors discuss its sonographic diagnosis and follow up. In the acute stage characteristic triangular shaped area of increased echogenicity appears at the external angle of the lateral ventricles, later regular shaped echo-free areas of cysts appear in that region. The diagnostic and prognostic significance of cranial sonography in periventricular leukomalacia is discussed.