title: Comparative Evaluation between Diameter Difference of the Thumb and Asymmetry of Lateral Cerebral Ventricles in Children with Developmental Delay: A New Finding.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Anthropometry (measurement of body dimensions) has been used for clinical diagnosis of growth and developmental disorders during pregnancy and after birth. Different brain volumes have also been shown in abnormal developmental disorders. This study compares the different horizontal diameters of the left- and right-hand thumbnails and asymmetry of lateral cerebral ventricles in children with developmental delays.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective case control study was carried out in the Pediatric Neurologic Outpatient of a university hospital in Tehran, Iran (2009-2011). Twenty-eight patients with motor developmental disorders (case) and 28 healthy individuals (control) had brain MRIs and volume of lateral cerebral ventricles size had been studied. The maximum horizontal diameters of the left and right thumbnails were measured by calipers during physical and neurological exams by a pediatric neurologist. Finally, we compared and analyzed different horizontal diameters of the left and right hand thumbnails and asymmetry of lateral cerebral ventricles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant correlation between asymmetry of brain lateral ventricles size and mean difference of horizontal diameter of thumb nails (P = 0.0001). A meaningful relation between brain hemispheres asymmetry and developmental delay (P = 0.04) was seen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The asymmetry of thumbnails can be a marker for asymmetry of lateral ventricles and child developmental delays.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurologist, Department of pediatric neurology, Imam Khomeini Medical Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Bagher Khan Ave, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zarintaj
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Keihani Doust
authors.affiliation: Maternal & Child Health Specialist, Maternal Fetal Neonatal Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Vali-Asr, Hospital, Bagher Khan Ave, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mamak
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shariat
authors.affiliation: Radiologist, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Vali- Asr Hospital, Bagher Khan Ave. Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rahimian
authors.affiliation: General Practitioner, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Vali- Asr Hospital, Bagher Khan Ave. Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tehrani
authors.affiliation: Pediatrician, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Vali- Asr Hospital, Bagher Khan Ave. Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Gholamreza
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saddighi
keywords: Asymmetrical thumbnail size; Asymmetry of lateral ventricles; Motor developmental delay