Title:Intracranial Structural Malformations in Children in Tibet: CT and MRI Findings in a Single Tertiary Center
Volume: 21
Author(s): Xuan Yin, Dawa Ciren, Ciren Guojie, Guofu Zhang, Jimei Wang and He Zhang*
Affiliation:
- Department of Radiology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China
- Department of Radiology, Shigatse People's Hospital, Shigatse, Xianzang Autonomous Region, P.R.China
Keywords:
Infant, Newborn, Central nervous system, Abnormalities, Computed tomography, Magnetic resonance imaging.
Abstract:
Objectives:
The objective of this study was to summarize the findings of children’s intracranial congenital or developmental malformations found during
imaging procedures in the Tibetan plateau.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed the imaging data of the suspected patients who presented with the central nervous system (CNS) malformations and
were enrolled either through the clinic or after ultrasound examinations between June 2019 and June 2023 in our institution. All imaging data were
interpreted by two experienced radiologists through consensus reading.
Results:
In this study, we recruited 36 patients, including two neonates, 17 infants and 17 children. Seven cases underwent an MRI examination, while the
others had a CT scan. Polygyria and pachygyria malformation were the most common type of congenital neurological malformations (7 cases,
31.8%), followed by cystic changes of the cerebral parenchyma (3 cases, 13.6%). Cerebral atrophy was the most common type of secondary CNS
abnormality (8 cases, 57.1%), followed by communicative hydrocephalus (3 cases, 21.4%). Five patients in the congenital group and 4 patients in
the secondary group had complex malformations. In the current study group, there were 8 deaths, 12 cases with neurological sequelae, 1 case with
normal development, and 15 cases lost to follow-up. There were no significant differences between the primary and secondary CNS groups in
terms of the outcome for both the infants and children groups.
Conclusions:
CNS malformations in the Tibetan Plateau are associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. Better utilization of imaging modalities could
help design tailored treatments as early as possible.
