Radiological Characterization of Cerebral Phenotype in Newborn Microcephaly Cases from 2015 Outbreak in Brazil.
BACKGROUND
Brazil is facing, since October of 2015, an outbreak of microcephalic fetuses. This outbreak is correlated with the beginning of circulation of Zika virus (ZIKV) in the country. Although it is clear that the size of the head is diminished in these fetuses, the brain phenotype associated with these malformations is unknown.


METHODS
We collected computed tomography images of the microcephaly cases from the region of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, from September 2015 to February 2016.


RESULTS
The microcephalies derived from the current outbreak are associated with intracerebral calcifications, malformation of the ventricular system, migratory disorders in the telencephalon and, in a lower frequency, malformation of the cerebellum and brainstem.


CONCLUSIONS
The characteristics described herein are not usually found in other types of microcephaly. We suggest that this work can be used as a guideline to identify microcephaly cases associated to the current outbreak.
Radiologia e Diagnóstico por Imagem, Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
Yuri Raoni
YR
Ramalho Rocha
Radiologia e Diagnóstico por Imagem, Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
José Ricardo
JR
Cavalcanti Costa
Radiologia e Diagnóstico por Imagem, Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
Pericles
P
Almeida Costa
Radiologia e Diagnóstico por Imagem, Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
Gessica
G
Maia
Radiologia e Diagnóstico por Imagem, Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
Rafael de Medeiros
Rde M
Vasconcelos
Radiologia e Diagnóstico por Imagem, Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
Cynthia
C
Ramos Tejo
Radiologia e Diagnóstico por Imagem, Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
Rafaella
R
Martins Batista
Radiologia e Diagnóstico por Imagem, Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
Manoel
M
Lima Neto
Radiologia e Diagnóstico por Imagem, Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
Gustavo Graco
GG
Martins de Lima
Radiologia e Diagnóstico por Imagem, Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
Francisco
F
Negromonte
Radiologia e Diagnóstico por Imagem, Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
Marcelle
M
Borba
Institute of Tropical Medicine of Rio Grande do Norte, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil; Institute of Science and Technology of Tropical Diseases, Brazil.
Selma Maria
SM
Bezerra Jeronimo
Brain Institute, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
Eduardo Bouth
EB
Sequerra
Radiologia e Diagnóstico por Imagem, Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
Manuel
M
Moreira Neto
Brazil; Outbreak; computed tomography; microcephaly; zika virus