Related Experiment Videos
Benign enlargement of the subarachnoid spaces in the infant
Insights
Benign enlargement of the subarachnoid spaces is a common finding in infants with enlarged heads. This condition, identified via CT scans, is not associated with serious neurological issues in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neuroradiology
- Infant Neurodevelopment
Background:
- Benign enlargement of the subarachnoid spaces (BESS) is a condition that can mimic more serious pathologies in infants.
- Accurate diagnosis is crucial to avoid unnecessary interventions and parental anxiety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinical and radiological characteristics of BESS in a cohort of infants.
- To evaluate the diagnostic criteria and clinical significance of BESS.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 18 infants diagnosed with BESS over a one-year period.
- Analysis of computerized tomography (CT) findings, including subarachnoid space dilatation, ventricular size, and basilar cisterns.
- Correlation with clinical presentation, primarily macrocephaly.
Main Results:
- Eighteen infants presented with BESS, characterized by enlarged subarachnoid spaces, normal/mildly enlarged ventricles, and prominent basilar cisterns on CT.
- Most infants were referred due to abnormally increasing head circumference.
- While developmental course was not always documented, BESS was a benign diagnosis without significant neurological sequelae.
Conclusions:
- Benign enlargement of the subarachnoid spaces is a frequently encountered condition in infants presenting with macrocephaly.
- CT findings are key to diagnosing BESS, differentiating it from other causes of increased intracranial volume.
- BESS represents a benign finding, reassuring for clinicians and parents regarding infant neurological health.
Abstract:
The authors report 18 infants with benign enlargement of the subarachnoid spaces seen at their institution during a 1-year time interval. This condition is characterized by the computerized tomography findings of dilatation of the subarachnoid spaces, normal or slightly enlarged ventricular size, and prominence of the basilar cisterns. Most cases were found in children referred for the evaluation of abnormally increasing head circumference measurements. Although it was not possible to document the development, and, in several cases, improvement of this process, in these patients enlargement of the subarachnoid spaces was a benign diagnosis, not associated with serious neurological dysfunction.