periventricular leukomalacia
Pronunciation: pair-ih-ven-TRIK-you-lar loo-ko-ma-LAY-she-uh
White matter injury adjacent to the lateral ventricles, primarily affecting premature infants.
Full Definition
Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is a form of white matter injury that occurs in the periventricular regions, predominantly affecting premature infants. The condition results from hypoxic-ischemic injury to the developing white matter, particularly in watershed vascular territories. PVL appears as hyperechoic areas on initial head ultrasound, which may evolve to cystic changes (cystic PVL) or ventricular enlargement. The condition is a major cause of cerebral palsy and neurodevelopmental disabilities in preterm infants. MRI is more sensitive than ultrasound for detecting subtle white matter changes and is increasingly used for diagnosis and prognosis.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish cystic from non-cystic PVL; specify imaging modality used for diagnosis.
In Context
- "Serial head ultrasounds revealed evolution from hyperechoic white matter to cystic periventricular leukomalacia." — neonatal head ultrasound series
- "MRI demonstrated extensive periventricular leukomalacia with associated ventricular dilatation." — pediatric brain MRI