Brain pathology characteristics of developmental brain damage in extremely pre- to full-term infants

Abstract

[Purpose] The characteristics of brain pathological findings according to gestational weeks (GW) were clarified. [Subjects] Sixty-two preterm infants and 29 full-term infants were studied to analyze the brain pathological findings. [Methods] The specificity of the brain pathology was studied in the cases of each GW and Pearson’s moment correlation analysis of variance of was performed. [Results] Among cerebral white matter injuries, periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) of spongy and diffuse types were frequently found in cases of less than 26 GW. Widespread-type PVL was found from 27 to 29 GW. Intermediate leukomalacia (IML) was found from 36 to 38 GW. Subcortical leukomalacia (SCL) was found from 39 to 41 GW. Pontosubicular necrosis widespread-type was found from 24 to 26 GW and from 39 to 41 GW. [Conclusion] The common sites of the softening in cerebral white matter injuries and other lesions were different and characteristic of gestational ages at birth. These findings are important for the start of early rehabilitation.