Ventricular shapes, distortions, and deformities: mirrors of past cerebral insults. A study based on early sonographic follow-up studies.
Ventricular distortions and deformities often represent the endpoint of neuropathologic reactions that evolve early in life. Once fully developed, they may offer no clues as to preceding etiologic agents or pathogenesis. Serial sonography in the neonatal period of 14 patients with periventricular leukomalacia provided documentation of the evolution of certain ventricular patterns. When recognized early, these ventricular changes have prognostic significance because periventricular leukomalacia can produce serious neurologic sequelae. If found later in childhood, periventricular leukomalacia can be suggested as the original pathology. Ventricular deformities can be generalized (12 patients) or focal (11 patients); the various types of distortions are seen frequently in combination. The generalized form of ventricular expansion consisted of uniform expansion of the parieto-occipital components (hydroporencephaly), following extensive periventricular white matter necrosis. Hydroporencephaly is a new form of ex vacuo hydrocephalus in the pediatric age group. Focal changes are caused by more localized white matter cavitations with ventricularization of ensuing porencephalic cysts. These changes result in a footprint-shaped ventricular pattern (10 patients) or in frontal/occipital (polar) ventricular pointing (4 patients). White matter necrosis in other areas may lead to ventricles with bumpy contours (5 patients).