Agenesis of corpus callosum: prenatal diagnosis and prognosis
Marie-Laure Moutard1, Virginie Kieffer, Josué Feingold
1Services de Neuropédiatrie, Obstétrique, Radiologie, Hôpital Saint Vincent de Paul, 82 Avenue Denfert Rochereau, 75674 Paris Cedex 14, France. marielaure.moutard@svp.ap-hop-paris.fr
Insights
Isolated agenesis of corpus callosum (ACC) in children has a generally favorable outcome. However, long-term monitoring is crucial as intellectual quotient may decline, leading to school difficulties.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Agenesis of corpus callosum (ACC) is frequently diagnosed prenatally.
- Isolated ACC typically suggests a good prognosis, though prior studies often lacked long-term follow-up.
- This prospective study examined 17 children with isolated ACC diagnosed prenatally.
Observation:
- Children underwent annual neuropsychological evaluations.
- Data were compared at ages 2, 4, and 6 years.
- Key developmental milestones and cognitive functions were assessed.
Findings:
- Median intellectual quotient (IQ) remained within the normal range (80-109).
- Lower IQ was linked to socioeconomic factors, not ACC severity or sex.
- Cognitive and behavioral issues, including lower IQ ranges and attentional problems, emerged with age.
Implications:
- While isolated ACC prognosis is favorable, extended follow-up is essential.
- Identifying children at risk for academic challenges requires ongoing assessment.
- Early intervention may mitigate long-term educational difficulties associated with ACC.
Introduction:
Agenesis of corpus callosum (ACC) is commonly diagnosed prenatally. When isolated, it appears to carry a good prognosis but studies are often retrospective and follow-up short. We report a prospective study of 17 children (11 boys, 6 girls) with prenatally diagnosed isolated ACC.
Methods:
Neuropsychological evaluation was performed each year and results at the ages of 2, 4, and 6 years were compared.
Results:
Febrile seizures occurred in 3 patients. Median intellectual quotient (IQ) was within the normal range (80-109) and nonrelated to partial or complete ACC, sex, or febrile seizures. Lower median IQ was significantly related to low cultural status. With age, the number of children with IQ in the lower range (80-89) increased and slowness, attentional troubles, and instability appeared.
Conclusion:
This study demonstrates that if outcome of isolated ACC is favorable, a long follow-up is necessary: with age, IQ in the lower range and behavioral troubles are linked to difficulties in school.
