What does schizencephaly mean?
Schizencephaly is an extremely rare developmental birth defect characterized by abnormal slits, or clefts, in the cerebral hemispheres of the brain.
Can schizencephaly be detected?
Antenatal diagnosis of schizencephaly is rare. Besides, most cases of schizencephaly are diagnosed after 28 weeks gestation, and schizencephaly has never been diagnosed before 20 weeks gestation, to the best of our knowledge.
How is schizencephaly diagnosed?
Schizencephaly is typically diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
What kind of imaging is used to diagnose schizencephaly?
Schizencephaly is typically diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). [2] A CT scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body, while an MRI scan uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding nerve tissues.
Can a CT scan diagnose open lip schizencephaly?
CT can adequately visualize open lip schizencephaly, as well as substantial heterotopic grey matter, but due to an inherent limited ability to distinguish grey from white matter, it is not ideal for fully characterizing congenital abnormalities. The features on CT are the same as on MRI (see below) but merely less well visualized.
What does schizencephaly mean in medical terms?
Schizencephaly is a rare birth defect. It causes slits or clefts in the cerebral hemispheres of your brain. These clefts may appear on one or both sides of your brain.
Can a baby be diagnosed with schizencephaly before birth?
In some cases, schizencephaly can also be diagnosed prenatally (before birth) on ultrasound after 20 weeks gestation. If clefting is seen on ultrasound, an MRI scan of the developing baby may be recommended to confirm the diagnosis. [2] [10] The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests for this condition.
