Noncystic white matter injury--a case report

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain in preterm infants at term-equivalent age demonstrated that apart from cystic periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), noncystic white matter injury may take place, detected as diffuse excessive high signal intensity (DEHSI) in the white matter on T2-weighted imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain is conducted in few neonatal intensive care units. Consequently, the literature on the subject lacks descriptions of sequelae of noncystic white matter injury in premature newborns with very low birth weight (VLBW). We present the results of a three-year long observation of a child born at the 27th week of pregnancy diagnosed with DEHSI. The boy exhibited cerebral palsy, hyperexcitability and hypoacusis. In the authors' opinion, noncystic white matter injury may not just be one of the reasons for cognitive/behavioral deficits--it may also be responsible for some cases of cerebral palsy in premature infants.