J Korean Radiol Soc.  1992 Jun;28(3):457-462.

Brain MRI in children with delayed development: emphasis on white matter maturation

• Sung MS
• Kim OH
• Moon JL
• Shinn KS
• Bahk YW

Abstract

To analyzed the progression of white matter maturation and white matter pathology, MR imaging of the brain was obtained in 38 children with delayed development. Children with developmental delay showed a high incidence of MR abnormalities(34/38, 89.5%). Delayed pattern of myelination and gray-white matter differentiation was seen in 13 patients. Twenty-two patients had white matter patholgy, including 14 with white matter hypoplasia, seven with focal small infarction, five with periventricular leukomalacia, and three with high signal intensities on T2 weighted image. Associated structural abnormalities were also evaluated. The most common lesions in decreasing frequency were cerebral atrophy and dysgenesis of the corpus callosum, pachygyria and/or polymicrogyria, porencephalic cyst and Leigh's disease. Twenty-three of 34 children had multiple abnormalities on MRI. The MRI was useful in depicting the progression of myelination and other white matter lesions, and serial follow-up MR is recommended for patients with delayed or lack of myelination and gray-white matter differentiation.

MeSH Terms

Abnormalities, Multiple
Atrophy
Brain*
Child*
Corpus Callosum
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Incidence
Infant, Newborn
Infarction
Leigh Disease
Leukomalacia, Periventricular
Lissencephaly
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Myelin Sheath
Pathology
Polymicrogyria
White Matter*