Neurologic sequelae and MRI in low-birth weight patients.

Periventricular hyperintensity was detected using long repetition and echo time on spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging in 24 of 32 children with birth weights less than 2,500 gm. Functionally, 11 children were normal, 6 mildly handicapped, 7 moderately handicapped, and 8 severely handicapped. The functional handicaps were correlated to the degree of periventricular hyperintensity observed on magnetic resonance imaging when periventricular hyperintensity was divided into 4 grades; therefore, the extent of periventricular hyperintensity observed on magnetic resonance imaging has been proved to be of value in the clinical assessment of low-birth weight infants and children and may contribute to the prediction of later functional deficits.