Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 10, Issue 1 25-30, Copyright © 1991 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Frontal periventricular cysts on the first day of life. A one-year clinical follow-up and its significance
G. S. Sudakoff, D. G. Mitchell, C. Stanley and L. J. Graziani
Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107-5244.
During a 6-year period, the prospective interpretations of routine
screening cranial ultrasound on 1453 premature infants indicated frontal
periventricular cysts in 7 infants without other intracranial abnormalities
during the first 24 hours after birth. The medical records of these 7
infants and their mothers and a developmental assessment at age 1 year were
also reviewed. The cysts were predominantly single and unilateral and
ranged in size from 2 to 11 mm. One infant had bilateral subependymal cysts
as well as frontal periventricular cysts. All 7 infants before 1 year of
age demonstrated mild neurological deficiencies. However, 6 of 7
demonstrated partial or complete resolution of their neurological
impairment by the end of 1 year. One infant was lost to clinical follow-up.
The presence of these frontal periventricular cysts in the first 24 hours
after birth suggests an in-utero event, such as antepartum hemorrhagic
infarction, as their etiology.
