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Ultrasonographic examination was performed in 13 preterm, 10 normal term and 3 term brain-damaged infants to evaluate changes of the ventricular width with the head position. The lower side of the frontal horn was narrowed and the upper side dilated in all preterm and brain-damaged infants. These changes of the ventricular width may be due to gravity and soft brain. Therefore, it is very important to consider the transformation of the lateral ventricles with the head position when asymmetry of the lateral ventricle is identified in infants showing prematurity or brain damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative study of intracranial imaging and brain pathology in cases of trisomy 18 and 13 was performed. Computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography (US) revealed disproportional dilatation of the lateral ventricles, a wide Sylvian fissure and a large extracerebellar space with a small cerebellum in each case. In addition, it was characteristic that the occipital poles of the cerebrum protruded in the infero-posterior direction in trisomy 18, and the pontine basis was relatively wide in trisomy 13. The brain pathology in trisomy 18 and 13 demonstrated that the large extracerebellar space is due to the cerebellar dysplasia and protruding occipital poles, the wide Sylvian fissures due to the temporal lobes or external capsular dysplasia, and the relatively wide pontine basis due to meningeal glioneuronal heterotopia. Thus, the characteristic intracranial image in trisomy 18 and 13 suggest microdysgenesis of the brain and might be useful for understanding the pathological structure of the central nervous system in these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cranial computed tomography (CT) of 108 cases with dilated lateral ventricles was reviewed to elucidate the relationship between focal vulnerability of developing brain and disproportional dilatation of lateral ventricles. CT findings of 108 cases with symmetrical dilatation of lateral ventricles were classified into three types by morphometry of lateral ventricles: anterior horn predominant type (31 cases), diffuse type (36 cases), posterior horn predominant type (41 cases). Posterior horn predominant type has a tendency to occur in congenital anomalies and premature brain damage, and anterior horn predominant type in infantile brain damage. This disproportional dilatation of anterior or posterior horns suggests a vulnerability of periventricular structure in developing brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unusual computed tomographic findings were observed in four patients with congenital ocular motor apraxia (COMA). These (CT) findings were characteristic in the posterior cranial fossa, with a dilated or deformed shape and size of the fourth ventricle, particularly its upper portion. One case revealed partial agenesis of the cerebellar vermis. It was suggested that the four patients subjected to CT showed abnormal topography of the cerebellar vermis or the brain stem. We postulate that these CT findings in COMA may have an important role in its pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report computed tomography (CT) appearance of two patients with Krabbe's disease. The most common findings included severe brain atrophy: an enlarged frontal extracerebral space, dilatation of ventricles, enlarged cisterns and enlarged cortical sulci. There was low attenuation in the corpus medullaris of the cerebellum, and symmetrical focal hypodensity in the central periventricular white matter. CT at the terminal stage (16 months) showed marked cerebral atrophy including flattening of the heads of caudate nuclei and widening of the third ventricles confirmed by a neuropathological study. There was relatively less low density on the white matter of Krabbe's disease compared with that of other leukodystrophies. These CT findings may be useful in the diagnosis. The relative lack of low density in the white matter of Krabbe's disease might be related to severe gliosis and reduced total lipid contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The normal development of the spinal cord from the fetal period to infancy was studied by ultrasonography (US) with a 7.5 MHz transducer. Longitudinal and transverse sections of the spinal cord were clearly observed. The sagittal and transverse diameters of the spinal cord increased with age. In order to evaluate disorders of the spinal cord precisely, it is necessary to clarify the normal features as well as the normal development of the spinal canal and cord, and the surrounding structures. US with such a high frequency transducer will be the most suitable for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report characteristic and morphometric changes of cranial computed tomography (CT) with increasing age in 56 patients with Down's syndrome aged from 0 month to 37 years. Patients were compared with 142 normal controls aged 0 to 59 years. Width of ventricles, Sylvian fissures, posterior fossa, pons and cisterna magna were measured on CT. The incidences of the cavum septi pellucidi, cavum vergae and cavum veli interpositi and high density in the basal ganglia were examined. There was high incidence (10.7%) of bilateral calcification of basal ganglia in Down's syndrome, although that of pineal body and choroid plexus calcification was similar in Down's syndrome and controls. Basal ganglia calcification is more frequently seen in young Down's syndrome and may be related to the premature aging characteristic of Down's syndrome. The CT in Down's syndrome showed relatively small posterior fossa, small cerebellum, small brain stem and relatively large Sylvian fissures in those under one year of age. There was a high frequency of midline cava and large cisterna magna. There were no significant atrophic changes on CT except after the fifth decade comparing with controls.

Three patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome were reported. Unusual findings on computed tomography were seen in two of the three patients. One case showed peculiar and marked dilatation of the 4th ventricle, supracerebellar cistern and lateral ventricle. The other case presented disproportionate enlargement of the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle. These CT findings in the two patients suggest that developmental abnormalities may constitute a structural defect.