XXXX (periventricular leukomalacia): sonographic, pathologic, and electroencephalographic features.

@entity1 @entity62 @entity548 @entity39
Eleven preterm @entity1 (gestational ages 27-35 weeks) with echogenic paraventricular white matter identified shortly after birth were studied with serial echoencephalograms to fully delineate the sonographic findings characterizing the pathologic stages of @entity62 . Echoencephalograms were compared with autopsy findings and CT scans. Cerebral function was assessed by electroencephalograms and later by neurodevelopmental evaluations. Echogenic areas were observed in the paraventricular white matter in the acute stage. Microscopically, the echogenic white matter consisted of vascular congestion and @entity548 , but not always with foci of @entity39 . Anechoic areas, which characterized the chronic stage, corresponded to cavitary lesions, and these generally appeared within 2 weeks of birth. However, six @entity1 had anechoic lesions by day 4, suggesting that the onset of white-matter damage was antenatal. CT showed mildly decreased attenuation when paraventricular echogenic areas alone or in association with small anechoic areas were observed. Markedly decreased attenuation on CT scans corresponded to large anechoic areas. Resolution of the sonographic and CT findings did not indicate normalization of the white matter since all surviving @entity1 were neurologically abnormal at 1 year. Electroencephalograms with central (rolandic) positive sharp waves were associated with echogenic white matter alone or with evolving anechoic areas. All @entity1 with positive sharp waves on electroencephalograms had large anechoic areas in later studies. Early and serial echoencephalograms are necessary to evaluate @entity62 in preterm @entity1 . When echogenic white matter is identified, electroencephalography can suggest the presence of @entity62 .
