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Leptomeningeal brain protrusions: a new type of leptomeningeal heterotopia
Author(s) -
Brown William R.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a402-b
Subject(s) - leptomeninges , pia mater , white matter , autopsy , heterotopia (medicine) , anatomy , pathology , medicine , cerebral cortex , cortex (anatomy) , magnetic resonance imaging , neuroscience , central nervous system , biology , radiology
In studies of the brain of a preterm baby who died soon after birth, unusual brain structures were found that may be a new type of congenital anomaly. The three structures appeared as small tongues of brain tissue overlying the cerebral hemispheres, projecting into the leptomeninges. The name leptomeningeal brain protrusion heterotopia is suggested. They were covered on all sides by a well‐formed, multilayered cortex, except at their point of origin, where they projected from the brain. There was white matter within the protrusions, connected to the brain white matter at the origin and extending for some distance into the protrusion. The brain protrusions consisted mostly of cortex. They were readily identified in tissue sections. One of these protrusions was identified in a brain slice at autopsy. However, they were difficult to recognize on gross inspection of the whole brain, in photographs of the brain surface, or by postmortem magnetic resonance imaging. I have seen somewhat similar protrusions (not as well‐formed) in a few other cases of preterm babies who died. These protrusions of brain tissue appear to be a new subtype of leptomeningeal heterotopia. They may develop early in gestation, perhaps as a result of an encephaloclastic lesion that breaches the glial‐pial limitans. Supported by the March of Dimes Research Foundation, NIH / NS 36780, Pratt Family Foundation, and WFU Center for Investigative Neuroscience.