Sonographic measurement of lateral ventricular width in early ventricular dilation.

Cerebral real-time ultrasound examinations from 35 high-risk premature newborn infants and 25 normal-term infants were reviewed for early signs of ventricular dilation. Measurements of the midbody lateral wall of the lateral ventricle to falx distance and ratio of this distance to the hemispheric width were obtained. Midbody lateral ventricular widths were also measured. Results indicate that displacement of the medial wall of the body of the lateral ventricle toward the midline is an earlier sign of ventricular dilation than is displacement of the lateral wall away from the midline.