ABSTRACT
We prospectively performed serial cranial ultrasonography to determine the incidence
of asymmetry of the lateral ventricles in very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants (500-1500
g) who did not have evidence of other intracranial pathology. Of the 490 babies scanned,
354 were free of other pathology and 41 (11.6%) had isolated ventricular asymmetry.
In 10 infants, the asymmetry was seen on the initial scan and in 31, it developed
subsequently. In 19 infants, the ventricular asymmetry resolved and in 22 infants
it persisted until hospital discharge. In no case was progressive enlargement of the
ventricles noted. There was a striking tendency of the larger ventricle to be on the
left side (33 L>R, 8 R>L). Compared with a control group of babies matched for birth
weight and gestational age who had persistently negative scans, there were no differences
in Apgar scores, cesarean section rate, gender distribution, prenatal steroid exposure,
or complications of prematurity except for an increased incidence of respiratory distress
syndrome requiring surfactant in the group with ventricular asymmetry (63% vs. 29%,
p = 0.04). Ventricular asymmetry is common in VLBW infants, but whether it is an incidental
finding or represents subtle brain injury is unknown.
Keywords
Ventricular asymmetry - lateral ventricles - premature infants - cranial ultrasound
