Normal and abnormal morphology of the corpus callosum

Abstract

We studied the normal and abnormal morphology of the corpus callosum in 450 midline sagittal magnetic resonance scans. Clinical information was required to differentiate acquired and congenital defects. Four forms of congenital anomalies were observed: focal attenuations, cysts, partial agenesis, and complete agenesis. Acquired changes resulted from hydrocephalus, white matter diseases, vascular accidents, tumor, and trauma.

Encephalopathy with Isolated Reversible Splenial Lesion of the Corpus Callosum

“…The prevalence of acquired lesions of the corpus callosum was estimated to be about 3% in a MR study of 450 patients and the differential diagnosis of corpus callosum abnormalities is considered to be difficult (1). Splenial lesions in the corpus callosum include Marchiafava-Bignami disease, ischemia, diffuse axonal injury, multiple sclerosis, hydrocephalus, tumors, epilepsy, antiepileptic drugs, hypoglycemia, cerebral malaria and encephalitis/encephalopathy (1-7).…”

Mental retadation: a MRI study of 146 Brazilian children

“…McLeod at al. 12 hypothesized that the attenuations in the corpus callosum thickness may reflect areas where fusion was diminished, and there were less fibers crossing to the other cerebral hemisphere at that level. They found focal attenuations in the body of the corpus callosum in 35% of their patients, and considered this finding to represent a normal variant.…”

“…T h e re f o re, it is a factor strongly associated with nonm a c roscopic brain insult, not detected by the MRI u s e d h e re. Both animal and human studies have convincingly demonstrated that prenatal maternal stress aff e c t s p regnancy outcome and results in early pro g r a mming of brain functions with permanent changes in neural-endocrine regulation and behavior in offspring 4,[10][11][12]25 .…”

Pediatric MRI Brain: Normal or abnormal, that is the question.

“…Focal thinning of the corpus callosum at the junction of the body and splenium, when seen in isolation, is likely a normal variant, known as the isthmus ( Figure 12). This normal variant is seen in approximately 22% of individuals [47] and should not be mistaken as focal hypoplasia. Primary complete and partial agenesis of the corpus callosum is often the result of insults occurring prior to 20 weeks of gestation.…”