Diagnosis
Different imaging modalities are commonly used for diagnosis. While computed tomography (CT) provides higher spatial resolution imaging of the brain, cerebral cortex malformations are more easily visualized in vivo and classified using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which provides higher contrast imaging and better delineation of white and gray matter.
Diffuse pachygyria (a mild form of lissencephaly) can be seen on an MRI as thickened cerebral cortices with few and large gyri and incomplete development of the Sylvian fissures.
- severe epilepsy
- reduced longevity
- varying degrees of mental retardation
- intractable epilepsy
- spasticity
A patient’s cognitive ability ranges correlate to the thickness of any subcortical band present and the degree of pachygyria.
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