Evaluation of the Corpus Callosum in Clumsy Children Born Prematurely: A Functional and Morphological Study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of functional and neuroradiological abnormalities of the corpus callosum in a group of 21 prematurely born children (GA < 34 weeks) who were found to be "clumsy" on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children at 6 years of age. All children underwent functional and morphological assessment of the corpus callosum. The functional assessment included tests of somesthesis, diadochokinesis and repetitive finger tapping. The morphology of the corpus callosum was evaluated on midsagittal MRI. Thirteen of the 21 clumsy children showed morphological abnormalities which were significantly associated with functional abnormalities. Morphological changes of the corpus callosum were also significantly associated with lesions on both neonatal ultrasound and late MRI. Our results support the view that morphological abnormalities of the corpus callosum are frequent in children born prematurely. The association between these abnormalities and lesions on US or MRI suggests that they are likely to be secondary to pre- or perinatal lesions.

Some Risk Factors for Cerebral Palsy in Very Premature Infants: Importance of Premature Rupture of Membranes and Monochorionic Twin Placentation

“…However, the type of placentation of twin pregnancies has never been specifically studied in an epidemiological approach to the risk factors for handicaps in prematures. An excess of monozygotic-monochoriononic twin morbidity has been shown to be associated with prematurity, fetal death of a cotwin [33], twin to twin transfusion and brain anomalies [34,35]. We did not find any significant relationship between twin to twin transfusion syndrome or in utero fetal death of a cotwin and neurological outcome.…”

Prenatal diagnosis of agenesis of corpus callosum: what is the neurodevelopmental outcome?

“…In case of prenatal suspicion of ACC, it is necessary to know if ACC is associated with other cerebral malformations, to help with parental counselling. The most frequent associated malformations are interhemispheric cysts, hydrocephalus, gyration or migration disorders, Dandy–Walker malformations and midline abnormalities 5,7,15,18,19,23–27 . In the literature, ACC is reported to be associated with other malformations in a variable proportion between 50 and 85% of cases, considering both cerebral and extra‐CNS malformations 7,22,28–30 .…”

Megalencephaly, mega corpus callosum, and complete lack of motor development: A previously undescribed syndrome

“…Subsequent bidirectional growth from the 16th week of gestation onward results in the final shape of the normal corpus callosum, with rounded genu, corpus of even thickness, and curved splenium, which is recognizable from the 30th week of gestation [Kier and Truwit, 1996]. Development of the corpus callosum is very dependent on the development of the brain hemispheres, and unilateral brain damage leads to corresponding atrophy of the corpus callosum [Barkovich and Norman, 1988;Mercuri et al, 1996]. In our patients, all parts of the corpus callosum seemed to be well formed, and the excessive size of the corpus callosum may have occured as a consequence of the bihemispheric overgrowth.…”