Biomaterial Database

Aicardi syndrome. A clinicopathologic case report including electron microscopic observations. 1991

R L Font, and H M Marines, and J Cartwright, and S C Bauserman

Department of Ophthalmology, Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston 77030.

Aicardi syndrome is characterized by infantile spasms, agenesis of the corpus callosum, severe mental retardation, and a characteristic chorioretinopathy with lacunar defects. The authors report on a 2-year-old girl with congenital hydrocephaly who was found unresponsive by the baby-sitter and died shortly thereafter. At autopsy, the histopathologic findings, which were confined to the brain and eyes, were found highly characteristic of AIC. The main abnormalities included agenesis of the corpus callosum, micropolygyria, bilateral papillomas of choroid plexi, bilateral microphthalmia, bilateral hypoplasia of the optic nerves, bilateral colobomas of the juxtapapillaris choroid and optic disc, bilateral total retinal detachment with dysplastic rosettes and chorioretinal lacunae with focal thinning, and atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium and choroid. A detailed histopathologic study of the ocular findings and the brain anomalies is presented. The results of scanning electron microscopy of the chorioretinal lacunae demonstrated peculiar papillary proliferations of the retinal pigment epithelium in both eyes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009900	Optic Nerve	The 2nd cranial nerve which conveys visual information from the RETINA to the brain. The nerve carries the axons of the RETINAL GANGLION CELLS which sort at the OPTIC CHIASM and continue via the OPTIC TRACTS to the brain. The largest projection is to the lateral geniculate nuclei; other targets include the SUPERIOR COLLICULI and the SUPRACHIASMATIC NUCLEI. Though known as the second cranial nerve, it is considered part of the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Cranial Nerve II,Second Cranial Nerve,Nervus Opticus,Cranial Nerve, Second,Cranial Nerves, Second,Nerve, Optic,Nerve, Second Cranial,Nerves, Optic,Nerves, Second Cranial,Optic Nerves,Second Cranial Nerves
D010857	Pigment Epithelium of Eye	The layer of pigment-containing epithelial cells in the RETINA; the CILIARY BODY; and the IRIS in the eye.	Eye Pigment Epithelium
D012164	Retinal Diseases	Diseases involving the RETINA.	Disease, Retinal,Diseases, Retinal,Retinal Disease
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D003103	Coloboma	Congenital anomaly in which some of the structures of the eye are absent due to incomplete fusion of the fetal intraocular fissure during gestation.	Coloboma Of Iris, Choroid, And Retina,Coloboma, Ocular,Coloboma, Uveoretinal,Ocular Coloboma,Uveoretinal Coloboma,Colobomas,Colobomas, Ocular,Colobomas, Uveoretinal,Ocular Colobomas,Uveoretinal Colobomas
D003337	Corpus Callosum	Broad plate of dense myelinated fibers that reciprocally interconnect regions of the cortex in all lobes with corresponding regions of the opposite hemisphere. The corpus callosum is located deep in the longitudinal fissure.	Interhemispheric Commissure,Neocortical Commissure,Callosum, Corpus,Callosums, Corpus,Commissure, Interhemispheric,Commissure, Neocortical,Commissures, Interhemispheric,Commissures, Neocortical,Corpus Callosums,Interhemispheric Commissures,Neocortical Commissures
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006849	Hydrocephalus	Excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the cranium which may be associated with dilation of cerebral ventricles, INTRACRANIAL HYPERTENSION; HEADACHE; lethargy; URINARY INCONTINENCE; and ATAXIA.	Communicating Hydrocephalus,Congenital Hydrocephalus,Obstructive Hydrocephalus,Post-Traumatic Hydrocephalus,Aqueductal Stenosis,Cerebral Ventriculomegaly,Fetal Cerebral Ventriculomegaly,Hydrocephalus Ex-Vacuo,Hydrocephaly,Aqueductal Stenoses,Cerebral Ventriculomegalies,Cerebral Ventriculomegalies, Fetal,Cerebral Ventriculomegaly, Fetal,Fetal Cerebral Ventriculomegalies,Hydrocephalus Ex Vacuo,Hydrocephalus Ex-Vacuos,Hydrocephalus, Communicating,Hydrocephalus, Congenital,Hydrocephalus, Obstructive,Hydrocephalus, Post-Traumatic,Post Traumatic Hydrocephalus,Stenoses, Aqueductal,Stenosis, Aqueductal,Ventriculomegalies, Cerebral,Ventriculomegalies, Fetal Cerebral,Ventriculomegaly, Cerebral,Ventriculomegaly, Fetal Cerebral
D013036	Spasms, Infantile	An epileptic syndrome characterized by the triad of infantile spasms, hypsarrhythmia, and arrest of psychomotor development at seizure onset. The majority present between 3-12 months of age, with spasms consisting of combinations of brief flexor or extensor movements of the head, trunk, and limbs. The condition is divided into two forms: cryptogenic (idiopathic) and symptomatic (secondary to a known disease process such as intrauterine infections; nervous system abnormalities; BRAIN DISEASES, METABOLIC, INBORN; prematurity; perinatal asphyxia; TUBEROUS SCLEROSIS; etc.). (From Menkes, Textbook of Child Neurology, 5th ed, pp744-8)	Cryptogenic Infantile Spasms,Hypsarrhythmia,Infantile Spasms,Jackknife Seizures,Nodding Spasm,Salaam Seizures,Spasmus Nutans,Symptomatic Infantile Spasms,West Syndrome,Cryptogenic West Syndrome,Lightning Attacks,Salaam Attacks,Symptomatic West Syndrome,Attack, Lightning,Attacks, Lightning,Attacks, Salaam,Cryptogenic Infantile Spasm,Hypsarrhythmias,Infantile Spasm,Infantile Spasm, Cryptogenic,Infantile Spasm, Symptomatic,Infantile Spasms, Cryptogenic,Infantile Spasms, Symptomatic,Jackknife Seizure,Lightning Attack,Nodding Spasms,Seizure, Jackknife,Seizures, Jackknife,Seizures, Salaam,Spasm, Cryptogenic Infantile,Spasm, Nodding,Spasm, Symptomatic Infantile,Spasms, Cryptogenic Infantile,Spasms, Nodding,Spasms, Symptomatic Infantile,Symptomatic Infantile Spasm,Syndrome, Cryptogenic West,Syndrome, Symptomatic West,Syndrome, West,West Syndrome, Cryptogenic,West Syndrome, Symptomatic