Central Softening of the Cerebral Hemispheres in the Newborn: Its Possible Relation to Chronic Infantile Cystic Degeneration of the Cerebral White Matter

Abstract

This contribution on central softening of the cerebral hemispheres in the newborn seems to confirm that this type of lesion does occur in newborn infants. In none of the “primary” cases (those without obvious cause) was there any evidence of difficult labor. In the only two instances with thrombosis of any part of the internal venous system of Galen, the thrombosis was obviously due to dehydration and sepsis (marantic thrombosis). This series of cases suggests that focal central softenings in the newborn are the result either of asphyxia, when found within the first few days of life (“primary” type), or of an intracranial infection of suppurative type when found somewhat later (“secondary” type). The fact that such focal softenings of the cerebral centrum are almost invariably fatal within a short time raises grave doubt that they serve as a progenitor state to chronic cystic degeneration of the cerebral centrum of infancy.