MR Findings of Cerebral Palsy and Clinical Correlation

Kim, Sun Ho; Kim, In One; Kim, Woo Sun; Yeon, Kyung Mo

Abstract

PURPOSE
To demonstrate MR findings of cerebral palsy(CP), correlation with clinical findings, and differences between the full-term and pre-term group.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Brain MRI of 94 patients with cerebral palsy(CP) were reviewed. The frequency of each MR finding, statistical correlation with clinical findings including type, severity and extent of CP, and differences between the full-term and pre-term group were analyzed.
RESULTS
Abnormal MR findings were found in 83 patients (88%), and were as follows: diffuse brain atrophy (30%); periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) (28%); infarction (11%), basal ganglia abnormality (11%); delayed myelination (10%); nonspecific tissue loss or encephalomalacia (9%); and cortical dysplasia (7%). Hemiplegia was the most common condition among patients with infarction, and was found in 80% of this group; diplegia was found in 50% of cases with diffuse brain atrophy, while paraplegia was found in 36% of those with normal MR findings (p<.05). Mild symptoms were dominant in patients with normal MR findings (82%) and in those with infarctions (90%) (p<.05). PVL was the dominant finding in the pre-term group (65%) whereas findings in the full-term group varied; in this group, 38% of MR findings suggested prenatal insults. Possible causative factors were found in 66% of the full-term and 80% of the pre-term group. Perinatal factors were dominant in the pre-term group (81%), whereas prenatal and postnatal factors showed relatively higher frequencies in the full-term group (30% and 24%, respectively).
CONCLUSION
Diffuse brain atrophy and PVL were the most common MR findings. The extent of CP the pre-term correlated well with MR findings. PVL and perinatal factors were dominant in the per-term group, whereas variable MR findings and relatively higher frequencies of pre- and postnatal factors were found in the full-term group.