DR. SHABEEBA K

DR. LEILA MOHAN, DR. K. RAMACHANDRA BHAT, DR. NIRMAL A. J.

Abstract

Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), an important neuroradiological sign of perinatal cerebral damage which can cause varying degree of optic disc damage. Secondary degeneration of ganglion cells and their fibres (retrograde, trans synaptic, or non-trans synaptic) is the main mechanism involved.

Purpose: To make awareness among general ophthalmologists about various optic disc morphological changes seen in PVL.

Material and methods: Records of 51 patients with PVL were analyzed. Mean age was 87 months. Out of 51 patients 40 (78.4%) had some kind of optic disc morphological abnormalities and 11 (21.56%) patients were with normal disc appearance. Out of 40 patients, 5 had large disc with large cup, 20 patients were with either diffuse or temporal pallor of disc and 12 patients with both large cup and disc pallor. 3 patients were with small disc and one of which was hypoplastic disc.

Conclusion: In a child with abnormal optic disc morphology, the possibility of PVL should be considered