Porencephaly

(credit for this information goes to Neurology Channel)

In Porencephaly a cyst or cavity develops in a cerebral hemisphere. The disorder can occur before or after birth.

Causes
Porencephaly may have a number of different causes, including absence of brain development and lesions that destroy brain tissue.

Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms include delayed growth and development, slight or partial paralysis, decreased muscle tone (hypotonia), seizures or spasms, macrocephaly or Microcephaly, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, shrinkage or shortening of muscles, and mental retardation. Speech development may range from poor to absent.

Diagnosis
Porencephalic cysts are sometimes detected in infancy. Severely affected infants usually display symptoms shortly after birth, and diagnosis usually is confirmed before age 1 by transillumination (passing light through) of the skull, CT scan, MRI scan, or ultrasonography.

Treatment
Treatment may include physical therapy, medication for seizures, and a shunt for hydrocephalus.

Prognosis
The location and extent of the brain damage determines the prognosis. Some patients develop normal intelligence and experience only minor neurological problems; others may be severely disabled. Many die before age 10.

Additional Information

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