Leukoencephalopathy with macrocephaly and mild clinical course

Elzbieta Marszał1, Ewa Jamroz, Justyna Paprocka

  • 1Klinika Pediatrii i Neurologii Wieku Rozwojowego, Slaska Akademia Medyczna, Katowice.

Insights

Magnetic resonance imaging aids in identifying genetic leukodystrophies like van der Knaap syndrome. This study details three new cases of megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts, confirming diagnostic criteria.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Medical Genetics
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Leukodystrophies are a group of genetic disorders affecting white matter.
  • Non-specific leukodystrophies, such as megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts (MLC), present diagnostic challenges.

Observation:

  • The study focuses on magnetic resonance (MR) patterns for identifying genetic leukodystrophies.
  • Three new cases of vacuolating leukoencephalopathy with megalencephaly were observed and analyzed.

Findings:

  • MR imaging patterns are crucial for diagnosing van der Knaap syndrome (MLC).
  • The presented patients met established clinical and neuroimaging criteria for van der Knaap syndrome.

Implications:

  • Enhanced understanding of MR characteristics aids in early and accurate diagnosis of MLC.
  • This research contributes to the diagnostic framework for rare genetic white matter disorders.

Related Concept Videos

Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology01:26

Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma caused by direct viral invasion or immune-mediated mechanisms triggered by infections or tumors. Both processes lead to neuronal injury, disrupted neurotransmission, and diverse neurological symptoms, often with overlapping clinical and pathological features.Autoimmune EncephalitisIn autoimmune encephalitis, antibodies target neuronal antigens on cell surfaces, synapses, or within neurons. A key example is anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which can...
Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

Encephalitis l: Introduction

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
Hepatic Encephalopathy01:29

Hepatic Encephalopathy

DefinitionHepatic encephalopathy is a reversible neurologic syndrome that results from advanced liver dysfunction or portosystemic shunting. It leads to disturbances in cognition, behavior, and motor function due to the brain’s exposure to gut-derived toxins that the liver fails to detoxify.EtiologyThis condition develops either in the setting of acute fulminant hepatitis or progressively during chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Portosystemic shunting—including...
Arboviral Encephalitis01:25

Arboviral Encephalitis

Arboviral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation caused by arthropod-borne viruses, particularly those transmitted through mosquito vectors. Among these, West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a significant public health concern. WNV is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Human infection typically begins when an infected mosquito introduces the virus into the dermis during feeding. The primary transmission cycle involves birds as amplifying hosts...
Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction01:19

Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder and a leading cause of neurological disability in young adults.EpidemiologyMS commonly begins between 20 and 40 years of age and is twice as common in women. Its exact cause remains unclear, but genetic susceptibility contributes, with higher risk in first-degree relatives and identical twins. A greater...
Cytomegalovirus Disease01:27

Cytomegalovirus Disease

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...