title: Developmental dilatation of Virchow-Robin spaces: a genetic disorder?
abstract: In childhood, widening of Virchow-Robin spaces is rarely secondary to specific progressive disorders, but more often appears in poorly characterized developmental conditions. From data collected in a neuropediatric department, we examined whether clinical data associated with "constitutional widening of Virchow-Robin spaces" allowed delineation of recognizable entities. Signs in 10 patients, mostly boys, suggested nonspecific cerebral dysfunctions, e.g., developmental delay, nonspecific epilepsy, headaches, or benign macrocephaly. Spaces were sometimes round, subsequently mimicking microcystic malacic lesions. In two patients, abnormal magnetic resonance imaging signals were evident in white matter contiguous to widened perivascular spaces, suggesting a broader disorder of fluid exchanges. Four cases occurred in two sibships. In two families, other patients exhibited early developmental difficulties. Long-term clinical and magnetic resonance imaging surveillance will clarify which cases of primary Virchow-Robin space dilatation imply a benign prognosis. Performance of magnetic resonance imaging on any relative exhibiting minor neuropsychologic handicaps would permit estimations of real genetic incidence.
authors.affiliation: Service de Neurologie Pédiatrique, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 94270 Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: Anne-Laure
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bruna
authors.forename: Ilda
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Husson
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Landrieu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001160:Arterioles / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014699:Venules / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology