MRI features of cerebral lesions and cognitive functions in preterm spastic diplegic children.

The aim of this study is to further clarify the relation between the pattern of cognitive impairment in spastic diplegic children born preterm and MRI features of cerebral lesions. The cognitive profile by Wechsler Scale of a sample of 30 children aged 6 years, 8 months to 14 years, 7 months was assessed, and the correlations between the Full Scale, Verbal, and Performance IQ and periventricular leukomalacia features on MRI were investigated. A significant difference was observed between the mean Verbal and Performance IQ, indicating a specific failure in the visuoperceptual functions of spastic diplegic children born preterm. Periventricular leukomalacia was detected in all children. The severity of ventricular dilatation, the degree and extent of white matter reduction, optic radiation involvement, and the thinning of the posterior corpus callosum correlated significantly with the Full Scale and Performance IQ: no correlation was observed between the Verbal IQ and any of the MRI features analyzed. In spastic diplegic children, an MRI examination between the ages of 1 and 2 years may be helpful in predicting a specific neuropsychological pattern of dysfunction and in defining an early intervention program.