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[Hemimegalencephaly and pathological left handedness. A case report]
J López-Pisón1, T Arana, P Abenia
1Sección de Neuropediatría, Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, España.
Revista De Neurologia
|October 17, 1998
Summary
Milder forms of hemimegalencephaly (HM) may be more common than previously thought. Early identification is key for conditions involving pathological left-handedness and asymmetry, aiding understanding of brain plasticity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Clinical Neurology
Background:
- Hemimegalencephaly (HM) is a rare congenital brain malformation characterized by excessive unilateral cerebral hemisphere growth.
- It typically presents with severe neurological deficits including intractable epilepsy and developmental delay.
- Milder forms of HM may be underdiagnosed.
Observation:
- A 12-year-old girl exhibited pathological left-handedness and craniofacial asymmetry.
- Neuroimaging revealed an enlarged left ventricle and hemisphere with white matter hyperintensities and cortical abnormalities.
- These findings are consistent with a potential diagnosis of hemimegalencephaly.
Findings:
- The case suggests that minor forms of hemimegalencephaly are likely more prevalent than currently recognized.
- Pathological left-handedness, asymmetry, and specific neuroimaging findings are crucial indicators.
- A high index of suspicion is necessary for timely diagnosis.
Implications:
- Recognizing milder HM forms is vital for appropriate patient management and intervention.
- Further study can illuminate brain plasticity, recovery mechanisms, and functional compensation in immature nervous tissue.
- This research contributes to understanding the spectrum of neuronal proliferation and migration disorders.