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Accogli A, Geraldo AF, Piccolo G, Riva A, Scala M, Balagura G, Salpietro V, Madia F, Maghnie M, Zara F, Striano P, Tortora D, Severino M, Capra V. Diagnostic Approach to Macrocephaly in Children. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:794069. [PMID: 35096710 PMCID: PMC8795981 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.794069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrocephaly affects up to 5% of the pediatric population and is defined as an abnormally large head with an occipitofrontal circumference (OFC) >2 standard deviations (SD) above the mean for a given age and sex. Taking into account that about 2-3% of the healthy population has an OFC between 2 and 3 SD, macrocephaly is considered as "clinically relevant" when OFC is above 3 SD. This implies the urgent need for a diagnostic workflow to use in the clinical setting to dissect the several causes of increased OFC, from the benign form of familial macrocephaly and the Benign enlargement of subarachnoid spaces (BESS) to many pathological conditions, including genetic disorders. Moreover, macrocephaly should be differentiated by megalencephaly (MEG), which refers exclusively to brain overgrowth, exceeding twice the SD (3SD-"clinically relevant" megalencephaly). While macrocephaly can be isolated and benign or may be the first indication of an underlying congenital, genetic, or acquired disorder, megalencephaly is most likely due to a genetic cause. Apart from the head size evaluation, a detailed family and personal history, neuroimaging, and a careful clinical evaluation are crucial to reach the correct diagnosis. In this review, we seek to underline the clinical aspects of macrocephaly and megalencephaly, emphasizing the main differential diagnosis with a major focus on common genetic disorders. We thus provide a clinico-radiological algorithm to guide pediatricians in the assessment of children with macrocephaly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Accogli
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Ana Filipa Geraldo
- Diagnostic Neuroradiology Unit, Imaging Department, Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
| | - Gianluca Piccolo
- Pediatric Neurology and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Antonella Riva
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marcello Scala
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Ganna Balagura
- Pediatric Neurology and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Salpietro
- Pediatric Neurology and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Madia
- Pediatric Clinic and Endocrinology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Mohamad Maghnie
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Pediatric Clinic and Endocrinology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Federico Zara
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Pasquale Striano
- Pediatric Neurology and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Domenico Tortora
- Neuroradiology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Valeria Capra
- Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy
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Bernardo P, Cinalli G, Santoro C. Epilepsy in NF1: a systematic review of the literature. Childs Nerv Syst 2020; 36:2333-2350. [PMID: 32613422 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-020-04710-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Epilepsy is one of the possible neurological manifestations of the neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) that represents the most common neurocutaneous disorder. We performed a systematic review of the literature on epilepsy associated with NF1 since 1995 in order to better define prevalence and describe type and causes of seizures. Data on type, nature of studies, number of patients, gender, and inheritance of NF1 were recorded as well as data on causes, type, EEGs, brain imaging, intellectual disability (ID), surgical treatment, and outcome of epilepsy. We identified a total of 141 references through the literature search of Pubmed and Embase. After screening, 42 records were identified, including 11617 individuals with NF1 (53% of males). Overall prevalence was estimated at 5.4% lifelong with values that seemed to be slightly lower in children, 3.7% (p 0.0016). Neither gender differences nor correlation with NF1 inheritance was found. Focal with or without bilateral tonic-clonic seizures were the most common seizure type encountered (60.9%). Structural causes were identified in half of cases (114/226). Low-grade gliomas were the most frequent associated lesions followed by mesial temporal sclerosis, malformation of cortical development, dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor, and cerebrovascular lesions. In these cases, the surgical approach improved the epileptic outcome. Prevalence of epilepsy is higher in subjects with NF1 respect of the general population, with values apparently significantly lower in pediatric age. Brain tumors and cytoarchitectural abnormalities are the most frequent causes of epilepsy in this population, although many other brain complications should be taken in account.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Bernardo
- Pediatric Psychiatry and Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, Santobono-Pausilipon Children's Hospital, Naples, Italy.,Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cinalli
- Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neuroscience, Santobono-Pausilipon Children's Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | - Claudia Santoro
- Pediatric Psychiatry and Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, Santobono-Pausilipon Children's Hospital, Naples, Italy. .,Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neuroscience, Santobono-Pausilipon Children's Hospital, Naples, Italy. .,Referral Centre of Neurofibromatosis, Department of Woman and Child, Specialistic and General Surgery, "Luigi Vanvitelli" University of Campania, Via Luigi de Crecchio, 2, 80138, Naples, Italy.
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Kim YE, Baek ST. Neurodevelopmental Aspects of RASopathies. Mol Cells 2019; 42:441-447. [PMID: 31250618 PMCID: PMC6602148 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2019.0037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
RAS gene mutations are frequently found in one third of human cancers. Affecting approximately 1 in 1,000 newborns, germline and somatic gain-of-function mutations in the components of RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase (RAS/MAPK) pathway has been shown to cause developmental disorders, known as RASopathies. Since RAS-MAPK pathway plays essential roles in proliferation, differentiation and migration involving developmental processes, individuals with RASopathies show abnormalities in various organ systems including central nervous system. The frequently seen neurological defects are developmental delay, macrocephaly, seizures, neurocognitive deficits, and structural malformations. Some of the defects stemmed from dysregulation of molecular and cellular processes affecting early neurodevelopmental processes. In this review, we will discuss the implications of RAS-MAPK pathway components in neurodevelopmental processes and pathogenesis of RASopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Eun Kim
- Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673,
Korea
| | - Seung Tae Baek
- Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673,
Korea
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673,
Korea
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Jang HM, Park HR, Mun JK, Hwang KJ, Kim J, Hong SC, Seo DW. Surgical treatment of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1. J Epilepsy Res 2014; 3:35-8. [PMID: 24649470 PMCID: PMC3957316 DOI: 10.14581/jer.13007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2013] [Accepted: 06/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is the most common neurocutaneous disease. Main neurologic manifestations are represented by neoplasms such as optic gliomas, but epilepsy can occur by CNS lesions in less than 10%. Our patient was diagnosed, based on café-au-lait spots and axillary freckles. Her brain MRI did not show only multiple CNS lesions, like hamartomas, but also mesial temporal lesions. On brain-MRI the mesial temporal lesions had increased high signal intensities and suspiciously increased volume. Moreover scalp lesions could be confirmed by thin-slice, fat suppression, enhanced lesions on skin and subcutaneous areas, indicating neurofibromas. The seizure onset zone was confirmed by presurgical evaluation including electrophysiology and neuroimaging. Her seizures were refractory to multiple antiepileptic drugs, but became free after anteromesial temporal resection. We report a patient with the NF1 in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsy surgery was also effective in this case.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Min Jang
- Departments of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hea Ree Park
- Departments of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jun-Kyu Mun
- Departments of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyoung Jin Hwang
- Departments of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jiyoung Kim
- Departments of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seung Chyul Hong
- Neurosurgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Dae-Won Seo
- Departments of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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