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Schizencephaly Reviewed 07-01-2001 Get Web page suited for printing Email this to a friend or colleague Studies with patients Table of Contents (click to jump to sections) What is Schizencephaly?Is there any treatment? What is the prognosis? What research is being done? Organizations Related NINDS Publications and Information What is Schizencephaly? Schizencephaly is an extremely rare developmental disorder characterized by abnormal slits, or clefts, in the brain's cerebral hemispheres. Schizencephaly is a form of porencephaly in which there is a cyst or cavity in the cerebral hemispheres. Individuals with clefts in both hemispheres (bilateral clefts) are commonly developmentally delayed and have delayed speech and language skills and corticospinal dysfunction. Individuals with smaller, unilateral clefts (clefts in only one hemisphere) are often paralyzed on one side of the body and may have normal intelligence. Patients with schizencephaly may also have varying degrees of microcephaly (abnormally small head), mental retardation, hemiparesis or quadriparesis (partial or complete paralysis), and reduced muscle tone (hypotonicity). Most patients have seizures. Some may have hydrocephalus. Is there any treatment? What is the prognosis? What research is being done? The Arc of the United States
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
National Information Center for Children and
Youth with Disabilities
National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development (NICHD) Related NINDS Publications and Information
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