Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38970707›Full record

ArticlePediatric radiology2024

Exploring the thalamus L-sign: initial findings and associations with white matter injury in premature infants.

Goni Merhav, Sarit Ravid, Mika Shapira Rootman

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Article in Pediatric radiology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

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3citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Reply to Venkatakrishna SSB.Pediatric radiology · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Goni MerhavMedical Imaging Division, Rambam Health Care Campus, HaAliya HaShniya 8, PO Box 9602, 3109601, Haifa, Israel.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7211-5681
Sarit RavidPediatric Neurology Unit, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1340-6723
Mika Shapira RootmanMedical Imaging Division, Rambam Health Care Campus, HaAliya HaShniya 8, PO Box 9602, 3109601, Haifa, Israel. mikashap@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6758-7673

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe thalamus L-sign, characterized by damage to the lateral and posterior parts of the thalamus, has recently been identified as a potential marker of partial prolonged hypoxic-ischemic injury (HII). Although prematurity-related thalamic injury is well documented, its association with the thalamus L-sign is infrequently described.

objectiveThe primary objective of this study was to further investigate the thalamus L-sign in premature birth and white matter injury. MATERIALS AND

methodsA retrospective analysis of 246 brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from preterm infants born before 37 weeks of gestation was conducted to explore the occurrence, characteristics, and associations of the thalamus L-sign with white matter injury.

resultsThe L-sign was detected in 12.6% of patients with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), primarily in severe cases (57.9% of severe PVL). All cases were associated with posterior parieto-occipital PVL. Four patients exhibited unilateral or asymmetric L-signs, which were linked to high-grade intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) or periventricular hemorrhagic infarction on the ipsilateral side, with the most severe white matter injury occurring on that side. No significant differences were observed regarding gestational age at birth, duration of neonatal intensive care unit hospitalization, percentage of IVH, hypoglycemia, or jaundice between patients with moderate-to-severe PVL with and without the thalamus L-sign.

conclusionThe thalamus L-sign may serve as a marker for severe parieto-occipital PVL and may be exacerbated and appear asymmetric in cases of ipsilateral IVH or periventricular hemorrhagic infarction.

Indexed as

Infant, PrematureLeukomalacia, PeriventricularMagnetic Resonance ImagingThalamusFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornMaleReproducibility of ResultsRetrospective StudiesSensitivity and SpecificityWhite MatterMagnetic resonance imagingPeriventricular leukomalaciaPremature infantThalamusWhite matter

Identifiers

PMID38970707
PMCPMC11324772

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