Canavan's spongiform leukodystrophy (Aspartoacylase deficiency) with emphasis on sonographic features in infancy: description of a case report and review of the literature.

Canavan disease (CD; MIM 271,900) or spongy degeneration of the central nervous system (CNS) is a lethal, rare autosomal recessive leukodystrophy, first described in 1931 (Canavan in Arch Neurol Psychiatry 25: 299-308, 1931). The clinical presentation includes severe neurologic impairment and macrocephaly with onset of symptoms at the age of 3-5 months. Biochemical and genetic fundamentals of the disease are elucidated. Imaging diagnosis is principally based on MRI with important role of MR spectroscopy. We report the cerebral sonographic findings in a severely affected infant with CD: Diffuse hyperechogenicity and small multicystic changes of white matter as well as an inverted pattern of echogenicity between cortical gray and subcortical white matter. These findings are compared to to the few cases found in literature and to normal ultrasound examples. Finally, ultrasound and MRI imaging findings are correlated.

Bilateral cystic pulmonary glial heterotopia and palatinal teratoma causing respiratory distress in an infant.

We report on a male infant with extensive, bilateral cystic and solid lung lesions who presented postnatally with respiratory distress caused by bilateral cystic lung lesions. Parenchyma-sparing resections were performed. Histology revealed the presence of neuroglial cell-lined cysts and glial nodules. In addition, a neural element containing palatinal teratoma was detected and excised. Based on previously published cases, the pathogenesis and clinical features of pulmonary neuroglial heterotopia are discussed.