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DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1246158
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
Unilateral Dilation of Virchow-Robin Spaces in Early Childhood
Publication History
received 13.05.2009
accepted 09.12.2009
Publication Date:
10 March 2010 (online)


Abstract
Observations of extreme unilateral widening of Virchow-Robin spaces (VRS) are rare and hitherto confined to adult, mainly old-aged patients. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in two unrelated boys aged 3 years with developmental coordination disorders. In one of these patients, follow-up MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were carried out 5 years later. In both boys, MRI incidentally revealed numerous intracerebral cysts strictly confined to one hemisphere. Localization, size, shape, and signal isointensity to cerebrospinal fluid indicated unilateral marked widening of VRS. In one patient, follow-up investigation after 5 years showed unchanged dilation of VRS on MRI, but mild facial hemihypertrophy, ipsilateral to the widened VRS. DTI indicated displacement rather than disruption of fiber tracks adjacent to the dilated VRS. Unilateral widening of VRS may be detected fortuitously on neuroimaging already in early childhood.
Key words
Virchow-Robin spaces - diffusion tensor imaging - facial hemihypertrophy