Neuroimaging and its correlation with clinical aspects of cerebral palsy

Abstract

Objective To investigate neuroimaging and its correlation with clinical aspects of cerebral palsy (CP).Methods A retrospective study of 295 children with CP was conducted.Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),the gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) and intelligence testing were administered,and any correlations among these measures was analysed.Results Among the 295 cases,257 presented abnormal MRIs (87.1％) due to brain maldevelopment (n =11),periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) (n =173),cortical/subcortical lesions (n =17),basal ganglia lesions (n =26),cerebellar maldevelopment (n =11) or others lesions (n =19).Thirty-nine presented with normal MRIs.About 26％ were rated at GMFCS level 1,18％ at level 2,17％ at level 3,19％ at level 4 and 20％ at level 5.Almost 82％ of the children presented with brain maldevelopment and 84.4％ with PVL-induced spastic bilateral paralysis.In 41％ of the children with cortical or subcortical lesions,induced spastic hemiplegia was observed,whereas 47％ had induced spastic bilateral paralysis.In 77％ of the children with basal ganglia lesions induced involuntary movement was observed,and all of those with maldevelopment of the cerebellum were ataxic.Most of those with spastic hemiplegic,bilateral paralysis,involuntary movement and ataxia were on GMFCS levels 1 or 2,with only 3.7％,33.5％,64.1％ and 46.2％ respectively on GMFCS level 4 or 5.Among those in whom the MRI revealed brain maldevelopment,9.1％ were on GMFCS level 1 or 2.The corresponding percentage for PVL was 43.9％,for cortical or subcortical lesions 58.8％,for basal ganglia lesions 19.2％ and for cerebellar maldevelopment 27.3％.The balance in each category were on GMFCS level 4 or 5.Epilepsy was most common in the children with brain maldevelopment (36.4％) or cortical or subcortical lesions (41.2％).Mental retardation was most common in cases of brain maldevelopment (45.5％),cortical or subcortical lesions (41.2％) or cerebellum maldevelopment (36.4％).The incidence of epilepsy and mental retardation was higher among the children on levels 4 and 5 than on levels 1 and 2.Conclusions Neuroimaging correlates significantly with the type of CP and GMFCS level.Epilepsy and mental retardation are most common in children with brain maldevelopment or lesions.The incidence of epilepsy and mental retardation is higher among children rated at GMFCS level 4 or 5 than among those on levels 1and 2. Key words: Cerebral palsy ; Neuroimaging; Gross motor function classification system ; Epilepsy ; Mental retardation