Article

The aim of this study was to compare total and regional cerebral volumes in
children with isolated cerebellar malformations (CBMs) with those in typically
developing children, and to examine the extent to which cerebellar volumetric
reductions are associated with total and regional cerebral volumes. METHOD: This
is a case-control study of children diagnosed with isolated CBMs. Each child was
matched on age and sex to two typically developing children. Using advanced
three-dimensional volumetric magnetic resonance imaging, the cerebrum was
segmented into tissue classes and partitioned into eight regions. Analysis of
variance was used to compare cerebral volumes between children with CBMs and
control children, and linear regressions to examine the impact of cerebellar
volume reduction on cerebral volumes. RESULTS: Magnetic resonance imaging was
performed at a mean age of 27 months in 20 children (10 males, 10 females) with
CBMs and 40 typically developing children. Children with CBMs showed
significantly smaller deep grey matter nuclei (p < 0.001), subgenual white matter
(p = 0.03), midtemporal white matter (p = 0.02), and inferior occipital grey
matter (p = 0.03) volumes than typically developing children. Greater cerebellar
volumetric reduction in children with CBMs was associated with decreased total
cerebral volume and deep grey matter nuclei (p = 0.02), subgenual white/grey
matter (p = 0.001), midtemporal white (p = 0.02) and grey matter (p = 0.01), and
parieto-occipital grey matter (p = 0.004). INTERPRETATION: CBMs are associated
with impaired regional cerebral growth, suggesting deactivation of principal
cerebello-cerebral pathways.
CI - (c) The Authors. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology (c) 2011 Mac Keith
Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS