Study on the diagnostic efficacy of craniocerebral ultrasonography for periventricular leukomalacia in premature infants

Objective:To explore the application value of craniocerebral ultrasonography in diagnosis of periventricular leukomalacia(PVL) in premature infants.Methods:Fifty-seven premature infants(including the premature infants from Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Huazhong University of Science and Technology) suspected of PVL were selected from August 2012 to August 2014,then the premature infants were divided into PVL group(15 cases) and non-PVL group(42 cases); craniocerebral ultrasonography was performed among the cases to analyze ultrasonic finding and diagnostic efficacy.Results:Among 15 PVL premature infants,multiple lumens without echo or with low echo were found in 10 premature infants,no lumen was found in 3 premature infants,and 2 premature infants were lost to follow up.Among 10 premature infants with lumens,lumens disappeared within one month in one premature infant,lumens disappeared from one month to shorter than two months in two premature infants,lumens disappeared within no less than two months in three premature infants.Mild ventricle dilation was found during follow-up in two premature infants after three months,and the side wall was irregular,two premature infants were lost to follow up; among 15 premature infants with PVL,12 premature infants were detected by craniocerebral ultrasonography,and the other three premature infants were misdiagnosed; among 42 premature infants without PVL,39 premature infants were detected by craniocerebral ultrasonography,and the other three premature infants were misdiagnosed.The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,positive predictive value,and negative predictive value were 80.00%,92.86%,89.47%,80.00%,and 92.86%,respectively.Conclusion:The diagnostic efficacy of craniocerebral ultrasonography is relatively high as an effective tool,craniocerebral ultrasonography can be used as the preferred diagnostic method for diagnosis of PVL in premature infants.