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Updated: May 25, 2026
Multiple-mouse Neuroanatomical Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: February 27, 2011
Polymicrogyria: correlation of magnetic resonance imaging and clinical findings
Ertugrul Mavili1, Abdulhakim Coskun, Huseyin Per
1Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Melikgazi, Kayseri, Turkey. ertmavili@yahoo.com
Aim:
The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation between clinical presentation and the extent of cortical involvement in patients with polymicrogyria.
Materials And Methods:
The magnetic resonance imaging findings of 26 patients were evaluated for the location and distribution of polymicrogyria. Presence of asphyxia at birth and serological tests for TORCH infections, the presence and type (spastic, flaccid) of motor deficits, mental development,microcephaly, and epilepsy were noted.
Results:
Nineteen patients had bilateral, whereas seven had unilateral involvement. Patients with unilateral polymicrogyria presented later with milder symptoms. The most encountered symptom in patients with bilateral involvement was mental motor retardation (MMR) (89%) and speech problems (84%).The clinical presentations of patients with asphyxia and positive serological tests for cytomegalovirus (CMV) were worse.All patients with positive serological tests for CMV had bilateral involvement. The perisylvian region was affected in five(71%) patients with unilateral involvement. The most encountered presenting symptom in these patients was epilepsy. Cerebral palsy was seen in three (43%) of the patients, and all of them had left hemiparesis. Microcephaly, MMR, and speech delay were detected in one (14%) of the patients.
Conclusions:
Late presenting epilepsy may be a predictor of aunilateral polymicrogyria and is associated with relatively good prognosis. CMV infection and the presence of asphyxia are predictors of worse prognosis.
Insights
Polymicrogyria presentation varies by brain involvement. Unilateral cases show milder symptoms, while bilateral cases often have developmental delays. Cytomegalovirus infection and birth asphyxia predict poorer outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Neurology
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Polymicrogyria is a cortical malformation characterized by excessive small gyri.
- Understanding the relationship between cortical involvement and clinical manifestations is crucial for prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between the extent of cortical involvement in polymicrogyria and the patient's clinical presentation.
- To identify predictors of prognosis in polymicrogyria.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 26 patients with polymicrogyria.
- Evaluation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for polymicrogyria location and distribution.
- Correlation of imaging findings with clinical data including motor deficits, cognitive development, microcephaly, epilepsy, birth asphyxia, and TORCH infections.
Main Results:
- Nineteen patients had bilateral and seven had unilateral polymicrogyria.
- Unilateral polymicrogyria was associated with later presentation and milder symptoms.
- Bilateral involvement frequently presented with mental motor retardation (89%) and speech problems (84%).
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and birth asphyxia correlated with worse clinical outcomes.
- All patients with positive CMV serology had bilateral polymicrogyria.
- Epilepsy was the most common symptom in unilateral cases affecting the perisylvian region.
Conclusions:
- Late-onset epilepsy may indicate unilateral polymicrogyria with a better prognosis.
- Cytomegalovirus infection and birth asphyxia are indicators of a poorer prognosis in polymicrogyria.
- The extent and location of cortical malformation significantly influence clinical presentation and outcomes.
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