A clinical study on patients with porencephaly

ABSTRACT

Porencephaly is relatively rare condition defined by an defect or a defect or cavity in the cerebrum owing to a developmental malformation or to a destructive lesion. Fory-five porencephaly patients diagnosed by Brain CT were clinically analyzed and the following results were obtained. 1) By the age group presenting initial symptoms, the peak incidence was from 1 month to below 3 years old. 2) In initial symptoms, seizure, spastic weakness, headache were showed in order of frequency. But 7 cases (15.5%) were asymptomatic. 3) The latency of diagnosis after presenting initial symptoms from the symptom onset time to 10 years. 4) The subsequent symptoms were as follows spastic weakness, speech disturbance, gait disturbance, mental retardation, sensory loss and seizure showed independently or combined. 5) As etiologic factor, 21 cases (46.7%) were congenital, 16 cases (35.5%) were post-traumatic or post-operative and 8 cases (17.8%) were perinatal. 6) The prognosis was seen various from mild to severe. Out of 45 cases, 29 cases (64.4%) were no complications. But the prognosis in patients with post-traumatic or postoperative etiological factors was poor. With the advent of brain CT and the resultant capability of detecting structural defect and cerebral lesions responsible for epilepsy or focal neurologic signs, porencephaly was seen to be readily recongizable by CT examination. Since porencephaly is a significant contributor to the spectrum of CNS lesion and benign condition, ist recognition is important in determining prognosis and therapy.