Malformation or damage of the corpus callosum? A clinical and MRI study

Abstract

Anomalies of the corpus callosum (CC) in children can be subdivided into two main categories: Malformations (also known as dysgenesis) and damage to a previously well-formed callosum. Pre- or perinatally acquired damage may have a mainly vascular, obstructive or hypoxic-ischemic etiology, whereas endotoxins and exotoxins might also play a role. Early postnatally acquired CC damage in children is mostly of vascular or traumatic origin. In some instances the CC is thinned after chronic pressure (e.g. in hydrocephalics). Nineteen of fifty children with psychomotor retardation had CC anomalies, most of them suggestive of acquired damage. Mild forms of CC anomalies are visible with MRI, but might be missed with a CT-scan. Children with acquired CC anomalies have signs of supposed Interhemispheric Disconnection (ID), which is partly responsible for their clinical syndrome of mental and motor retardation. The likelihood of finding a CC anomaly in a child seems to be enhanced by the predictive use of neuropsychological tasks indicative for ID.