MRI Brain Study of Lateral Ventricles in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Introduction: Cerebral Palsy (CP) is not a disease but a group of conditions characterised by spasticity, seizures and paralysis along with disorganised motor skills. It occurs following brain injuries during foetal development or during childbirth or even shortly thereafter. Motor deficit is the usual presentation in a CP patient along with delayed developmental milestones that make medical evaluation a must for the child. By proper history, progressive or degenerative disease can be excluded. This combined with a neurological examination, the diagnosis of CP can be made by establishing that the motor deficit of the patient is due to a cerebral cause. Aim: To evaluate any connection between lateral ventricular volume and severity of motor deficit, presence of seizures along with cognitive impairment Materials and Methods: MRI Brain images of 20 patients with cerebral palsy were reviewed for lateral ventricular volume and compared with the degree of motor deficit, cognitive impairment and presence of seizures. Results: There was a direct correlation between the degree of motor deficit and cognitive impairment with the lateral ventricular volume. No such relationship was found between the presence or absence of seizures with the lateral ventricular volumes. Conclusion: Lateral ventricular volume measurements can be used as quantitative markers of the severity of clinical impairment.

Keywords

• disability
• lateral ventricular volume
• neurological disorder
• seizures