La matriz germinal es un área de proliferación de células neuronales y gliales susceptible de hemorragia en los recién nacidos pretérmino, ocurriendo hasta en uno de cada cuatro recién nacidos con un peso al nacer de 1,500 g y hasta en casi la mitad de los que pesan menos de 1,000 g. La frecuencia y la gravedad de este padecimiento es inversamente proporcional a la edad gestacional y peso al nacer. Esta hemorragia puede extenderse al sistema ventricular y puede asociarse con infarto de la sustancia blanca. Papile et al. en 1978 clasificaron las hemorragias de la matriz germinal basados en sus hallazgos por tomografía, clasificación que sigue vigente hasta nuestros tiempos. El propósito de este trabajo es presentar una revisión de la literatura, así como sus hallazgos por diferentes métodos de imagen, como el ultrasonido transfontanelar y la resonancia magnética.

The germinal matrix is an area of proliferation of neuronal and glial cells susceptible to hemorrhage in preterm infants occurring in up to one in 4 newborns who weigh less than 1,500 g at birth and in almost half of those who weigh less than 1000 g. The frequency and severity of this condition is inversely proportional to gestational age and birth weight. This bleeding can extend to the ventricular system and can be associated with white matter infarction. Papile et al., in 1978, classified the hemorrhages of the germinal matrix based on their findings by tomography, a classification that continues to this day. The purpose of this paper is to present a review of the literature as well as its findings by different imaging methods such as transfontanelar ultrasound and magnetic resonance.

The germinal matrix is an area of proliferation of neuronal and glial cells susceptible to hemorrhage in preterm infants occurring in up to one in 4 newborns who weigh less than 1,500 g at birth and in almost half of those who weigh less than 1000 g. The frequency and severity of this condition is inversely proportional to gestational age and birth weight. This bleeding can extend to the ventricular system and can be associated with white matter infarction. Papile et al., in 1978, classified the hemorrhages of the germinal matrix based on their findings by tomography, a classification that continues to this day. The purpose of this paper is to present a review of the literature as well as its findings by different imaging methods such as transfontanelar ultrasound and magnetic resonance.