J Clin Neurol.  2017 Apr;13(2):170-174. 10.3988/jcn.2017.13.2.170.

Thick Corpus Callosum in Children

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pediatric Neurology and Epilepsy Center, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel. savinoam@013.net
  • 2Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
  • 3Department of Radiology, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
A thick corpus callosum (TCC) can be associated with a very grave outcome in fetuses, but its clinical presentation in older children seems to be markedly different.
METHODS
The corpus callosum (CC) was defined as thick based on observations and impressions. We reviewed cases of children who were diagnosed as TCC based on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies. The pertinent clinical data of these children were collected, and their CCs were measured.
RESULTS
Out of 2,552 brain MRI images, those of 37 children were initially considered as showing a TCC. Those initial imaging were reviewed by an experienced neuroradiologist, who confirmed the diagnosis in 34 children (1.3%): 13 had neurofibromatosis-1 (NF-1), 9 had epilepsy, 3 had macrocephaly capillary malformation (MCM) syndrome, 3 had autistic spectrum disorder, 1 had a Chiari-1 malformation, and 1 had increased head circumference. No specific neurologic disorder could be defined in seven children. The measured thickness of the CC in these children was comparable to those published in the literature for adults.
CONCLUSIONS
A TCC is a rare brain malformation that can be found in neuropathologies with apparently diverse pathognomonic mechanisms, such as NF-1 and MCM. It is not necessarily associated with life-threatening conditions, instead being a relatively benign finding, different in nature from that reported in fetuses.

Keyword

corpus callosum; neurofibromatosis; MRI; epilepsy/seizures; genetics

MeSH Terms

Adult
Brain
Capillaries
Child*
Corpus Callosum*
Diagnosis
Epilepsy
Fetus
Genetics
Head
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Megalencephaly
Nervous System Diseases
Neurofibromatoses
Neuropathology

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