Re: cortical dysplasia

Posted By CCF neuro MD MM on November 20, 1998 at 11:31:40:

In Reply to: cortical dysplasia posted by Lucy De Palma on November 20, 1998 at 02:27:28:






Thanks for your response to my query [My cousin's 15 month old baby has
had the following diagnosis:: Spastic tetraparesis in a subject with
cortical dysplasia : (pachygirya in fronto-parietal-temporal areas)]I just
have a few more questions. You said he could be severely retarded.
In the last couple of weeks he started to roll over on his own,  
and open and shut his hands. In addition he is able to pick up toys
and transfer them to a container. He responds to language and maintains
eye contact. He easily recognizes people and responds differently to each
one. He is very alert and is able to support his own head. He does
have some difficulty sitting un-aided, however he seems to be improving.
Could the initial diagnosis have been incorrect[an MRI was carried out] or is he progressing like
other children with this condition. Have you known of children with a
similar condition walk, talk, go to school?




  
Cortical dysplasia is a general term which is used to describe a
range of developmental abnormalities of the cerebral cortex, the
extent and severity of the lesion in each individual case determines the
outcome in terms of development.
It sounds like there is extensive involvement of the brain but this may
not be very severe in degree, thence he is developing at a better rate than expacted.
I have seen people with lesser degrees of cortical dysplasia develop to the point
where they can go to school and live independently.
This as I said depends on the severity and degree of the problem which
is different in everyone, so general predictions are impossibele.
It sounds like your relative is doing better than would be expected from
a  simple description of his scan, there is a good chance that this will continue.
The test of choice to make this diagnosis , short of a brain biopsy is an MRI
scan , but if you want the diagnosis reviewed you could have the origional
films reviewed

[Pepsi6511]

A related discussion, Cortical dysplasia was started.