Neuro-lmaging of Cerebral Visual Disturbances in Children

Abstract

The present study comprises the neuroradiological examination (computertomography, magnetic resonance imaging) of 26 children - 9 of them were premature, 16 were full-term and in one patient, no details of the pregnancy were known - all suffering from:

a) visual disturbance, not caused by ocular disease or afflictions of the optic nerve
b) infantile encephalopathy

The examination revealed characteristic lesions of the retrochiasmatic part of the visual system. These consisted of white matter abnormalities located periventricularly and just below the striate area, and of grey matter abnormalities of the striate cortex.

The demonstration of these abnormalities may advance the diagnosis of the visual handicap and may facilitate early adjustment of developmental stimulation.

Key words

Vision - NMR - CT-scan - Blindness - Infantile encephalopathy