We analyzed retrospectively the brain magnetic resonance(MR) findings of patients with cerebral palsy to correlate with gestational age and time of damage. We also attempted to correlate the extent of brain lesion, brain atrophy and ventriculomegaly with severity of motor disability. Forty-one patients aged from 4 months to 9 years were devided into two groups as 14 premature and 27 full term.

Of 41 patients, abnormal MR findings were noted in 28 cases, 9 prematurity and 19 full term. MR findings of 66.7% of premature patients(6/9) revealed lesions of periventricular white matter reflecting injury at the late second or early third trimester.

Seventy point fou per cent(19/27) patients born at full term showed abnormal findings. Among these 19 patients, the abnormal MR findngs were congenital anomaly 21.1%(4/19), isolated white matter lesion 36.8%(7/19), and periventricular subcortical white matter and gray matter lesion 26.3%(5/19) consistent with the late third trimester injury.

There was no patients shown extensive brain lesion among 19 patients who walked independently but there was 31.8% of patients(7/22) who walked with assistance or could not walk. Only 10.5% of patients(2/19) who walked independently showed brain atrophy but did 54.5% of patients(12/22) who walked with assitance or could not walk(P<0.05).

Brain MR is a guide for estimating the time of damage from the location of brain lesion and for the prediction of motor prognosis by the extent of damage and atrophy.