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Cerebral abnormalities in infants with myelomeningocele
Affiliations- department of neurosurgery
- 1 st Department of Radiology, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Jaczewskiego 8, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
- 2 Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital ‘Agia Sofia’, Athens, Greece
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Abstract
We evaluated brain abnormalities associated with myelomeningocele in infants.
Material and methodsBetween June 1995 and June 2008, 42 patients with myelomeningocele were treated in our hospital. Only 24 patients (13 males, 11 females, mean age 1.5 months, range 1 day – 11 months) were evaluated by both spinal and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and were enrolled in the study.
ResultsBrain MRI revealed: hydrocephalus in 21 (87.5%) patients, all of whom required immediate shunting. Total agenesis of the corpus callosum was observed in 2 (8.3%) patients, partial agenesis was seen in 4 (17%) patients and 8 (34%) patients had dysplasia of the corpus callosum. Absence of the septum pellucidum was observed in 2 (8%) patients. Widening of the interhemispheric fissure and colpocephaly were noted in 10 (41%) and in 3 (12%) patients, respectively. Abnormal white matter maturation was observed in 2 (8%) patients. Small posterior fossa was observed in 18 (74%) patients, Chiari malformation in 16 (67%) patients, cerebellar and brain stem hypoplasia in 3 (12%) and 7 (30%) patients, respectively.
ConclusionsMRI examination of the myelomeningocele site is not sufficient. Clinicians should consider obtaining imaging studies of the entire neuraxis in patients with myelomeningocele.
Abstract
We evaluated brain abnormalities associated with myelomeningocele in infants.
Material and methodsBetween June 1995 and June 2008, 42 patients with myelomeningocele were treated in our hospital. Only 24 patients (13 males, 11 females, mean age 1.5 months, range 1 day – 11 months) were evaluated by both spinal and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and were enrolled in the study.
ResultsBrain MRI revealed: hydrocephalus in 21 (87.5%) patients, all of whom required immediate shunting. Total agenesis of the corpus callosum was observed in 2 (8.3%) patients, partial agenesis was seen in 4 (17%) patients and 8 (34%) patients had dysplasia of the corpus callosum. Absence of the septum pellucidum was observed in 2 (8%) patients. Widening of the interhemispheric fissure and colpocephaly were noted in 10 (41%) and in 3 (12%) patients, respectively. Abnormal white matter maturation was observed in 2 (8%) patients. Small posterior fossa was observed in 18 (74%) patients, Chiari malformation in 16 (67%) patients, cerebellar and brain stem hypoplasia in 3 (12%) and 7 (30%) patients, respectively.
ConclusionsMRI examination of the myelomeningocele site is not sufficient. Clinicians should consider obtaining imaging studies of the entire neuraxis in patients with myelomeningocele.
Keywords
spinal dysraphism, myelomeningocele, MRI, brain
About this articleTitle
Cerebral abnormalities in infants with myelomeningocele
Journal
Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska
Issue
Pages
18-23
Page views
326
Article views/downloads
1155
DOI
10.1016/S0028-3843(14)60055-4
Bibliographic record
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2011;45(1):18-23.
Keywords
spinal dysraphism
myelomeningocele
MRI
brain
Authors
George A. Alexiou
Maria K. Zarifi
George Georgoulis
Eleni Mpouza
Christiana Prodromou
Athina Moutafi
Marina Anagnostakou
George Sfakianos
Neofytos Prodromou
