Polymicrogyria is a neuronal developmental disorder. Poly meaning many, micro meaning small, and gyri meaning folds describes the appearance of the surface of the brain. Either the whole surface or parts of the surface can be affected. Children suffer from a wide spectrum of issues from mild to severe mental retardation, speech and swallowing problems and seizures. Polymicrogyria is sometimes seen as part of a syndrome.
Causes are genetic, viral or due to lack of nutrition during gestation. With increased use of imaging techniques polymicrogyria is becoming more widely diagnosed. Poor brain images or inadequate experience in interpreting images can lead to misdiagnosis as Lissencephaly.
Classical lissencephaly (previously type I) or generalized agyria-pachygyria is a severe brain malformation manifested by a smooth cerebral surface, abnormally thick cortex with four abnormal layers, widespread neuronal heterotopia, enlarged ventricles, and often agenesis or malformation of the corpus callosum (Fig.
Polymicrogyria is characterized by many small gyri separated by shallow sulci, slightly thick cortex, neuronal heterotopia and often enlarged ventricles.
Polymicrogyria with periventricular calcifications was observed in two sibs who also had microcephaly (8).
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