Further questions on Focal Cortical Dysplasia

[Angelina__0]

  RE: Focal Cortical Dysplasia
  ----------------------------
  Dear Doctors,
  I'd posted "Focal Cortical Dysplasia" on September 23, 1998 at 04:39:39:
  and had received two prompt answers from CCF NSG MD /gsh on September 23, 1998 at 09:43:30: and CCF MD mdf on September 23, 1998 at 09:37:10:
  Later, on September 26, 1998 at 04:06:26:, I've posted another "Focal Cortical Dysplasia", and received an answer by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS on September 26, 1998 at 10:36:31:
  (In case my letter below is not clear of what had happened, the above information maybe helpful)  
  
  First of all, I would like to thank all of you for your prompt replies. You never know how good are your explaination that I can never get from my sources.  
  My son, Four Years plus nime months, is behaving like a three-years old baby (Slow in mental and physical development).  Now that I know he had 'Focal Cortical Dysplasia',meaning: abnormal brain development. The problem maybe since my womb, child-care or inheritance.  Now, he has begin to show great improvement and is attending special school (Since 1st October 1998).  He had been to Comprehensive Paediatric Rehabitation centre ( Which includes: Paediatrics & Orthopaedics, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Clinical Psychology). He had been examined ( Scan, MRI, DNA, and some od which I am not sure what they are). He is very fond of music and had fantastic memory, below average understanding skill and can not comprehend.  His next kins are the only people that understand his speech.  In school, he had good academic result but had poor attitude and consider having behavioural problems.
  As my doctor told me that he is 'hopeless', I almost give up, until I read this forum.  Thank you again for all the medical advice and information you gave me.  And most of all, all those encouraging words are very helpful and give my family warmth and power.
  But I still had some uncertanity with my boy's problem.  I'll list them out and I hope my question is clear not a repeat ones.
  1.There is no way of reversing brain dysfunction. But is there any possiblity that the 'healthy' brain will learn to perform it's task and the task of the dysfunctioned brain?
  2. How to get the neurons migrated to their correct position may be unknown.  But can't the neurons functioned as well anyhow, anywhere and place? ( The crucial part is if the neurons themself are 'healthy').
  
  3. "Paucity of white matter" is the 'fatty white substance' called myelin that surrounded Axon for separation of neurons that surround it. My son has a paucity of tracts in the temporal and parietal lobes.  Will these grow later in his life? Or will it be like neurons that will be fewer and fewer in our brains.
  4.Broca's and Wernicke's area are for speech and language understanding. My son can speak but likes to speak 'nonsense'. He understand my speech but do not always intructions. Can I conclude that he has no problem in Broca's area but had a damaged Wernicke's area which is at the upper part of the temporal lobe?
  5.In the MRI report, there is a sentence 'Suspicious hyperintensity was noted in the posterior white matter bilaterally; ?gliosis.' What is this means?
  6. Is there any drug/vitamin supplement that can help him?
  7. Is there any recommended sources/ books or relevant material for me to follw-up in this case? I want to learn more about this 'Focal Cortical Dysplasia' that is bothering my son so much.
  8. Is there any problem if he has a 'Thickened cortex'?
  9. He seems to be slow in reaction ( Will feel the pain only several seconds after he is pinch, he need 30 seconds to respond to his name, he laugh to a joke about 3 minutes later).  Why?
  10. Lastly, will he has problem in biological reproduction drive? ( Sexual development).
  
  Thanks again for your answers and I sincerely hope that my English usage will not cause problem in your understanding of this long letter.
  
  Wishing all of you, the best in health.
  
  Best Regards,
  
  Angelina Thio
==========================================================================
I will try to answer your questions in the order you asked them, it is
simply not possible to anwer all of them but I will do my best.
1- The fact that he is now doing so well proves that normal brain
is compensating to some extent, it is not possible to predict
the extent of this.
2- Neurons need to be in the cortex to make appropriate connections to
  other neurons, this is not possible if the are abnormally located.
3-New tracts will not grow in the lobes you mention.
4-Brocas and wWernickes areas can be variable in location especially
when brain development is abnormal, in this situation it is not possible
to reach confident conclusions regarding exact localization of speech.
5-Gliosis is a termmfor scarr tissue in the brain, it is not possible
usually to say why this occurred.
6-No drugs or vitamins have been shown to help cortical dysplasia.
7-Thickened cortex is another manifestation of cortical dysplasia,
  cortex in that area does not function normally, the manifestations
  depend on the area involved.
8-His slow reactions may be due to slow processing of information
  because he does not have the same degree of connections in his
  cortex as is usual.
9-Sexual development is not usually affected in cortical dysplasia since it is
  mediated by hormones rather than cortical tissue.
10-I am not aware of any education materials in this area but will check
  and repost if I can obtain any information which would be of use, although
  you sound as though your level of knowelege is already way beyond the average
  public education handouts.
  education