Preterm periventricular axonal and myelin injury.

Injury to the periventricular axons and myelin in the preterm infant occur at a vulnerable period of brain development and may be associated with devastating brain lesions and neurological sequelae. Ultrasonography in the newborn period identifies the site and extent of lesions and is useful in predicting the outcome for surviving infants. The etiology of the most common lesion, PVL, is incompletely understood and will require continuing studies so that causes may be eliminated and appropriate therapies instigated.