Neonatal periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage. Subacute and chronic MR findings.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate MR findings at subacute and chronic stages after neonatal periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH), and to determine the clinical significance of follow-up MR.


METHODS
Twenty-six children (estimated gestational age, 23-39 weeks; mean 29 weeks) with a history of previous PIVH underwent MR examination during their subacute and chronic clinical courses. PIVHs were initially detected with ultrasound examination in all cases. PIVH was divided into three grades (mild, moderate, and severe) according to the findings at the initial US studies, which were correlated to the MR findings.


RESULTS
Abnormal signal intensities related to hemorrhage were demonstrated in 10 of 21 patients (47.6%) on initial MR studies; the very low signal intensities on T2-weighted images found on the periventricular wall with a linear or a spotty shape had disappeared at one year after the initial US. The children with ventriculomegaly and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) were increased in number on the follow-up studies.


CONCLUSIONS
MR imaging provided valuable information about the consequences of neonatal PIVH such as developments of ventriculomegaly or PVL. It is noteworthy that hemorrhagic lesions could not be detected in half of the cases at the subacute or chronic stage of PIVH.
Asao
C
C
Department of Radiology, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Kumamoto City Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan.
Korogi
Y
Y
Kondo
Y
Y
Yasunaga
T
T
Takahashi
M
M
D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007969:Leukomalacia, Periventricular / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D014463:Ultrasonography