PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - M. Scarabello AU - A. Righini AU - M. Severino AU - L. Pinelli AU - C. Parazzini AU - E. Scola AU - G. Palumbo AU - M. Di Maurizio AU - I. D’Errico AU - A. Rossi AU - F. Triulzi AU - P.D. Griffiths TI - Ganglionic Eminence Anomalies and Coexisting Cerebral Developmental Anomalies on Fetal MR Imaging: Multicenter-Based Review of 60 Cases AID - 10.3174/ajnr.A7062 DP - 2021 Mar 11 TA - American Journal of Neuroradiology 4099 - http://www.ajnr.org/content/early/2021/03/11/ajnr.A7062.short 4100 - http://www.ajnr.org/content/early/2021/03/11/ajnr.A7062.full AB - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The ganglionic eminences are transient fetal brain structures that produce a range of neuron types. Ganglionic eminence anomalies have been recognized on fetal MR imaging and anecdotally found in association with a number of neurodevelopmental anomalies. The aim of this exploratory study was to describe and analyze the associations between ganglionic eminence anomalies and coexisting neurodevelopmental anomalies.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study includes cases of ganglionic eminence anomalies diagnosed on fetal MR imaging during a 20-year period from 7 centers in Italy and England. Inclusion criteria were cavitation or increased volume of ganglionic eminences on fetal MR imaging. The studies were analyzed for associated cerebral developmental anomalies: abnormal head size and ventriculomegaly, reduced opercularization or gyration, and abnormal transient layering of the developing brain mantle. The results were analyzed using χ2 and Fisher exact tests.RESULTS: Sixty fetuses met the inclusion criteria (21 females, 24 males, 15 sex unknown). Thirty-four had ganglionic eminence cavitations (29 bilateral and 5 unilateral), and 26 had increased volume of the ganglionic eminences (19 bilateral, 7 unilateral). Bilateral ganglionic eminence cavitations were associated with microcephaly (P = .01), reduced opercularization, (P < .001), reduced gyration (P < .001), and cerebellar anomalies (P = .01). Unilateral ganglionic eminence cavitations were not significantly associated with any particular feature. Bilateral increased volume of the ganglionic eminences showed an association with macrocephaly (P = .03). Unilateral increased volume was associated with macrocephaly (P = .002), abnormal transient layering (P = .001), unilateral polymicrogyria (P = .001), and hemimegalencephaly (P < .001).CONCLUSIONS: Ganglionic eminence anomalies are associated with specific neurodevelopmental anomalies with ganglionic eminence cavitations and increased ganglionic eminence volume apparently having different associated abnormalities.GAgestational ageGEganglionic eminence