Susceptibility weighted imaging in a case of lissencephaly: Evidence of persistent fetal vasculature

Abstract

Lissencephaly, with posterior-anterior gradient, are congenital brain malformations characterized by the presence of a few broad, flat gyri with thickened cortex. It results from the arrest of neuronal migration in early gestation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings are characteristic and show thickened dysplastic cortex with a paucity of gyri and sulci. We report a case of lissencephaly with posterior-anterior gradient with unique imaging findings on susceptibility weighted imaging. Susceptibility weighted imaging revealed prominent venous channels traversing the thickened cortex. These channels possibly represent primitive vessels, similar to those seen in early cortical development, and can probably be seen due to the enormously thickened cortex in case of lissencephaly.

Keywords

Lissencephaly - susceptibility weighted imaging - persistent fetal vasculature