PERIVENTRICULAR LEUCOMALACIA Meaning and
Definition
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Periventricular Leucomalacia (PVL) is a medical condition characterized by the death or damage of the white matter in the brain, particularly in the periventricular region. The term "periventricular" refers to the area surrounding the ventricles, which are fluid-filled spaces in the brain responsible for the production and circulation of cerebrospinal fluid.
PVL primarily affects premature infants, especially those born before 32 weeks of gestation or with very low birth weight. It is commonly associated with complications related to premature birth, such as respiratory distress syndrome and hypoxia. The exact cause of PVL is still not fully understood, but it is believed to result from an interruption in blood flow to the periventricular region, leading to reduced oxygen supply and subsequent damage to the developing white matter.
The characteristic symptoms of PVL may include developmental delays, cognitive impairments, motor abnormalities, and visual or hearing deficits. These symptoms generally manifest later in childhood, as the affected neural pathways are involved in various aspects of brain functioning. Diagnosis of PVL often involves neuroimaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can reveal the presence of white matter abnormalities.
Although there is no specific cure for PVL, treatment focuses on managing the associated symptoms and providing supportive care. This may include physical and occupational therapies to aid in the development of motor skills, speech and language therapies to improve communication abilities, and individualized educational interventions to address cognitive impairments. Ongoing monitoring and follow-up are essential to track the progression of PVL and provide appropriate interventions to optimize the affected individual's long-term outcomes.
Common Misspellings for PERIVENTRICULAR LEUCOMALACIA
- oeriventricular leucomalacia
- leriventricular leucomalacia
- -eriventricular leucomalacia
- 0eriventricular leucomalacia
- pwriventricular leucomalacia
- psriventricular leucomalacia
- pdriventricular leucomalacia
- prriventricular leucomalacia
- p4riventricular leucomalacia
- p3riventricular leucomalacia
- peeiventricular leucomalacia
- pediventricular leucomalacia
- pefiventricular leucomalacia
- petiventricular leucomalacia
- pe5iventricular leucomalacia
- pe4iventricular leucomalacia
- peruventricular leucomalacia
- perjventricular leucomalacia
- perkventricular leucomalacia
- peroventricular leucomalacia
Etymology of PERIVENTRICULAR LEUCOMALACIA
The word "periventricular leucomalacia" has its roots in medical terminology and combines several Greek and Latin elements:
1. Peri- is a Greek prefix meaning "around" or "surrounding".
2. Ventricular is derived from the Latin word "ventriculus", meaning "cavity" or "chamber". It refers to the interconnected cavities within the brain that produce and contain cerebrospinal fluid.
3. Leucomalacia is a compound word combining the Greek word "leuko" meaning "white" and "malacia" derived from the Greek "malakos" meaning "soft". Leucomalacia, in medical terms, refers to the softening and loss of white matter in the brain.
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