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Colpocephaly in adults
Charles C Esenwa1, David E Leaf
1Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA. cce2117@columbia.edu
Insights
Colpocephaly, a brain abnormality, is typically diagnosed in infants but can occur in adults. This case highlights the need to consider colpocephaly in adults with specific brain ventricle enlargement.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Colpocephaly is a congenital brain abnormality affecting the ventricular system.
- Radiological diagnosis is common in the perinatal period and often linked to intellectual disability.
Observation:
- A rare case of massive colpocephaly diagnosed in an adult woman is presented.
- The patient is otherwise a functional individual, challenging typical presentations.
Findings:
- Colpocephaly involves disproportionate ventriculomegaly, particularly affecting the occipital horns.
- This condition must be differentiated from idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) in adults.
Implications:
- The study broadens the understanding of colpocephaly's potential presentation in adulthood.
- It emphasizes the importance of considering colpocephaly in adult ventriculomegaly diagnoses.
- Accurate differentiation from NPH is crucial for appropriate patient management.
Abstract:
Colpocephaly is a congenital abnormality in the ventricular system of the brain. The radiological diagnosis is usually made in the perinatal period and later presages intellectual disability. Adult cases of newly diagnosed colpocephaly have only rarely been reported. We have studied an adult with massive colpocephaly who is an otherwise functional woman. The diagnosis should be considered in patients with ventriculomegaly disproportionately affecting the occipital horns and must be differentiated from the more common form of adult ventriculomegaly-idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).
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