Cerebral palsy of cystic periventricular leukomalacia in low-birth-weight infants.

We studied ultrasound findings and neurodevelopmental outcome of 24 infants weighing 2500 g or less with cystic periventricular leukomalacia. Fourteen infants had symmetrical cysts in the parietal or occipital region (group 1) and 10 had non-symmetrical cysts (group 2). Each infant was followed for more than 4 years of age (mean 5 years and 7 months). Twenty out of 24 (83.3%) children developed cerebral palsy. All of group 1 had cerebral palsy (8 diplegia and 6 ataxic diplegia), while 6 (60%) in group 2 developed cerebral palsy (4 diplegia and 2 hemiplegia). There was a significant difference in the incidence of cerebral palsy and motor ability between the two groups. The size and site of the cyst did not predict cerebral palsy. The presence of symmetrical cysts in the parietal or occipital region is a highly reliable neurosonographic finding for predicting cerebral palsy.