Cerebral palsy MRI

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Iqra Qamar M.D.[2]

Overview[edit | edit source]

MRI is the diagnostic neuroimaging study of choice especially for older children and is preferred over CT scan. The diagnostic yield of MRI depends upon the type of CP (mixed > quadriplegic > hemiplegic > diplegic > ataxic > dyskinetic) and the timing of birth. MRI findings in patients with CP may include hypoxic-ischemic lesions (eg, periventricular leukomalacia-PVL), cortical malformations and lesions of the basal ganglia.

MRI[edit | edit source]

• MRI is the diagnostic neuroimaging study of choice especially for older children.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}
• MRI is preferred over CT due to
  • Higher diagnostic yield
  • Role in finding out the etiology and timing of insult
• The diagnostic yield of MRI depends upon:
  • The type of CP (mixed > quadriplegic > hemiplegic > diplegic > ataxic > dyskinetic)
  • Timing of birth (scans are more often abnormal in preterm compared with term infants)
• MRI findings in patients with CP include:
  • Hypoxic-ischemic lesions (eg, periventricular leukomalacia-PVL)
  • Cortical malformations
  • Lesions of the basal ganglia (bilateral thalami)
• MRI may show:
  • Myelination for a given age
  • A tethered spinal cord
• MRI is found to be abnormal in 90% of children with cerebral palsy.^[6]
• MRI has an important role in predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants.^[7]
• MRI may be normal in cerebral palsy- does not exclude the diagnosis and require exclusion of metabolic and genetic etiologies

References[edit | edit source]

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