Presentation
25 week premature infant treated for mid-gut volvulus.
Patient Data
![](https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/5499582/b4a522d9c9d5bd9856348488bb7a61_big_gallery.jpg)
Selected images from a cranial ultrasound study demonstrates a small left sided ventricular hemorrhage within the caudothalamic groove. There is extension of blood into the body of the left lateral ventricle.
This is a grade II IVH due to extension into the nondilated ventricles.
Case Discussion
The ventricular system of premature infants contains a germinal matrix which lies within the caudothalamic groove (space between caudate head and thalamus). The germinal matrix is highly vascular and serves as a stem source for neuroblasts in-utero. It typically involutes by term.
Hemorrhage into the germinal matrix commonly occurs in premature infants during first 3 days of life. Complications include destruction of precursor cells within germinal matrix, hydrocephalus and hemorrhagic infarction of periventricular tissues.