Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Pattern in Cerebral Palsy

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) leads to a common static motor neurological disease in children that can be demonstrated with varied neuroimaging findings. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has a vital role of determining the presence of brain injury and its extent, with any possibility of determining pathogenic pattern and disease severity. The objective of the study is to evaluate the neuroimaging findings in CP and their correlation to disease severity. Method The research was case-control study, consecutive and complete records of all patients who had a clinical diagnosis of CP and performed a head MRI between 2018 and 2019 were enrolled in this study. Cases group were children diagnosed as severe CP with The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) IV-V. Control group were children confirmed as CP with GMFCS I-III. Brain imaging was examined by MRI, in which the abnormalities were classified into grey matter or white matter injury, focal vascular disorder and brain malformation. Kruskal-Wallis statistical analysis was applied to identify the correlation. Results Almost 60 cases were reviewed. White matter injury, malformation and focal vascular insult were not correlated significantly to CP severity (OR = 0.73; 95% CI = 0.2-2.2; p = 0.78 and OR = 0.61; 95% CI = 0.2-1.9; p = 0.57 and OR = 2.034; 95% CI = 0.51-0.76; p = 0.63, respectively). Grey matter injury was more frequent discovered in severe CP (50%) and increased the risk of CP severity (OR = 9; 95% CI = 2.2 – 36; p = 0.002). Conclusion Grey matter injury is considered the most frequent abnormalities of Brain MRI in CP and it could increase the risk of severity.