title: Agenesis of the corpus callosum associated with spinal open neural tube defect.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To ascertain the incidence and clinical implications of agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) in spinal open neural tube defects (SONTD).
  
  
  METHODS
  All cases of SONTD registered at the Spina Bifida Clinic in King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between 1995 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed, and mid-sagittal MRI of the corpus callosum (CC) area was analyzed in each case. Neurodevelopmental outcome was classified as poor in children with seizures, severe neurodevelopmental impairment, or death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-eight patients (45.8%) with ACC were identified among 83 cases with SONTD. Patients' age ranged between one and 16 years. Total ACC was found in 10 patients, partial ACC in 25, and in 3 patients, the CC was hypoplastic. Active hydrocephalus was an associated finding in 9 out of 10 patients with total ACC, 22 out of 25 with partial ACC, and in all patients with hypoplasia of the CC. Thirteen patients (34.2%) had normal intellectual function, whereas 24 patients presented with learning disability, epilepsy, or poor intellectual function; and one patient died of respiratory failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Agenesis of the corpus callosum is found in a significant portion of patients with SONTD. When associated with hydrocephalus, its presence affects neuro-developmental outcome.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Division, Institute of Surgery, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, PO Box 51900, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. E-mail: eelgamal@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Essam A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Elgamal
authors.forename: Sherif M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Elwatidy
authors.forename: Amro F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Alhabib
authors.forename: Zain B
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Jamjoom
authors.forename: Waleed R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Murshid
authors.forename: Hamdy H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Mustafa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Salih
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D061085:Agenesis of Corpus Callosum / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology