Partial agenesis of the corpus callosum in spina bifida meningomyelocele and potential compensatory mechanisms

J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2009 Feb;31(2):180-94. doi: 10.1080/13803390802209954. Epub 2008 Dec 3.

Abstract

After a review of Arthur Benton's conceptual and methodological contributions to the understanding of normal and pathological development, we discuss agenesis of the corpus callosum (CC), criteria for potential neuroanatomical compensatory mechanisms in CC agenesis, and the results of an examination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of the CC in 193 children with spina bifida meningomyelocele (SBM). There were 26 CC regional patterns. Although complete agenesis did not occur, partial agenesis was observed in 102 children and within 15 CC regional patterns. Only 4.1% had a normal CC. Quantitative assessment of the area of the CC in 26 NC children and 68 children with SBM revealed that all subgroups with CC anomalies had smaller areas than did a subgroup with a normal CC. Areas were especially small in rostral/splenial agenesis and splenial agenesis but larger with rostral agenesis. Subgroups with normal/hypoplastic regions or complete hypoplasia also had CC areas that were smaller than normal but larger than the areas for the splenial agenesis groups. The relative rarity of anterior commissure enlargement (3.1%) and longitudinal bundles of Probst (0.1%) suggest that these particular fiber tract anomalies are unlikely candidates for structural compensatory mechanisms. The hippocampal commissure, enlarged in 13%, may be a more promising candidate. Overall, however, the functionality of anomalous fiber tracts and commissures in SBM is yet to be determined.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acrocallosal Syndrome / complications*
  • Adolescent
  • Agenesis of Corpus Callosum
  • Brain Mapping
  • Child
  • Corpus Callosum* / pathology
  • Corpus Callosum* / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Meningomyelocele / complications*
  • Spinal Dysraphism / complications*