Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 channel ( TRPV4 ) gene mutations have been described in skeletal system and peripheral nervous system pathology. The case described here is a 9-year-old male child patient, born to a nonconsanguineous marriage with normal birth history who had difficulty in walking and stiffness of joints for the last 7 years, and progressive weakness of all four limbs and urine incontinence for 1 year following falls. Physical examination showed below-average weight and height and short trunk. Musculoskeletal examination revealed bony prominence bilaterally in the knee joints and contractures in knee and elbow joints with brachydactyly; muscle tone was increased, with brisk deep tendon reflexes. Skeletal survey showed platyspondyly with anterior beaking with metaphyseal dysplasia. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine revealed atlantoaxial instability with hyperintense signal changes at a cervicomedullary junction and upper cervical cord with thinning and spinal canal stenosis suggestive of compressive myelopathy with platyspondyly and anterior beaking of the spine at cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. Exome sequencing revealed a heterozygous de novo variant c.2389G > A in exon 15 of TRPV4 , which results in the amino acid substitution p.Glu797Lys in the encoded protein. The characteristics observed indicated spondylometaphyseal dysplasia, Kozlowski type (SMD-K). The child underwent surgical intervention for compressive myelopathy by reduction of atlantoaxial dislocation with C1 lateral mass and C2 pars fusion using rib graft and fixation using screws and rods. To conclude, for any child presenting with progressive kyphoscoliosis, short stature, platyspondyly, and metaphyseal changes, a diagnosis of SMD-K should be considered and the patient and family should be advised to avoid spinal injuries.
Over the past decade, there has been a dramatic rise in the interest relating to the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in radiology. Originally only 'narrow' AI tasks were possible; however, with increasing availability of data, teamed with ease of access to powerful computer processing capabilities, we are becoming more able to generate complex and nuanced prediction models and elaborate solutions for healthcare. Nevertheless, these AI models are not without their failings, and sometimes the intended use for these solutions may not lead to predictable impacts for patients, society or those working within the healthcare profession. In this article, we provide an overview of the latest opinions regarding AI ethics, bias, limitations, challenges and considerations that we should all contemplate in this exciting and expanding field, with a special attention to how this applies to the unique aspects of a paediatric population. By embracing AI technology and fostering a multidisciplinary approach, it is hoped that we can harness the power AI brings whilst minimising harm and ensuring a beneficial impact on radiology practice.
Artificial Intelligence , Radiology , Child , Humans , Societies, Medical
Biotinidase deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive neurometabolic disorder resulting in biotin deficiency. Our patient presented with seizures and developmental delay since infancy and was started on megavitamin supplements. At 14 years, she presented with motor regression with encephalopathy after discontinuation of vitamins. There were no skin and hair changes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed bilateral symmetrical posterior putamen signal changes. Tandem mass spectroscopy showed increased methyl malonyl carnitine and 3-OH isovaleryl carnitine. There was a low biotinidase level, and a pathogenic variant in the BTD gene in the next-generation sequencing was identified. Special importance is placed on the unusual symmetric posterior putamen involvement seen in MRI of the brain.
Hyperphosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis (HFTC) presents with varied neurological manifestations that have been reported in the literature like facial palsy, vision and hearing impairment, stroke, and headache. In this article, we reported a 12-year-old girl child patient with recurrent facial weakness with bilateral hearing impairment and multiple ulcerative lesions on lower limbs and elbows. On examination, she had lower motor neuron (LMN) facial palsy with conductive hearing loss. The investigations showed hyperphosphatemia (9.3 mg/dL) with normal serum calcium (10.4 mg/dL), alkaline phosphatase (147.9 U/L), parathyroid hormone (23.12 pg/mL), and renal function tests. Elevated serum calcium and phosphorus product (96.72 mg 2 /mL 2 ) and elevated renal tubular reabsorption of phosphate (TMPxGFR) value (9.16) were noted. Skeletal survey showed hyperostosis in the long bone diaphysis, vertebrae, ribs, pelvic bone, skull, and facial bones with narrowing of cranial ostium, characteristically without any peri-articular soft tissue calcifications. An angiogram showed multiple intravascular calcifications. She was managed with a low-phosphate diet, sevelamer, niacinamide, acetazolamide, sucroferric oxyhydroxide to lower serum phosphate level, and topical sodium thiosulfate ectopic cutaneous calcification. Exome sequencing showed novel homozygous inframe deletion of ACG in FGF23 gene exon 3 at c.374_376 delins position (p. Asp125del) in the proband and a mutation in the heterozygous state in the mother and elder sibling, thus confirming a molecular diagnosis of HFTC. Our case had a unique neurological presentation of recurrent bilateral lower motor nerve facial palsy, hearing loss, multiple ectopic cutaneous calcifications without peri-articular deposits, multiple intravascular, intracranial, and vertebral endplate calcification, which has not been reported earlier. The proband showed a novel pathogenic variant suggesting an expanding phenotype of HFTC.
Mitochondrial disorders are a group of metabolic disorders with variable presentation and usually affect organs with high energy requirements like the brain, eye, and heart. Seventeen-month-old girl child presented with right hemiparesis and regression of milestones following chicken pox. Investigations showed elevated lactate, white matter signal changes in both periventricular and subcortical white matter with frontal predominance in the MRI of the brain, cardiomyopathy in the echocardiography, with complex I deficiency in respiratory enzyme assay in the muscle biopsy. A homozygous missense variant c.304C>T (p. Arg102Cys) in exon 5 of NDUFS8 gene (chr11:67800682C>T; NM_002496.4) was detected on whole exome sequencing with positive parental Sanger for the same gene. The child was started on a mitochondrial cocktail, ramipril, and frusemide. Mitochondrial complex deficiency should be considered in cases with stroke-like episodes, and predominant white matter involvement on imaging mimicking classical genetic leukodystrophy like Alexander disease.
Biotinidase deficiency (BD) is a rare treatable cause of neurometabolic disorders. It is an autosomal recessive disorder that manifests with cutaneous and neurological manifestations. Spinal cord involvement is uncommon with only a few cases reported in the literature. A 6-year-old female child presented with progressive difficulty in walking since 2 months. At 6 months of age, the child was elsewhere evaluated for global developmental delay and suspected as metabolic disorders and started on megavitamins, following which the child was improved. For the past 2 years, she has stopped medicines. On examination, irritable, alopecia, eczema, hypotonia, and power of two-fifths in all four limbs, and exaggerated deep tendon reflexes. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain and spine showed T2/fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) hyperintensities in periaqueductal gray matter, dorsal midbrain, pons, medulla, and cervical cord. She was suspected to have BD and confirmed by low enzyme levels and pathogenic variant in BTD . She was started on biotin supplements that resulted clinically dramatic improvement and MRI became normal within 4 weeks. Any child presenting with acute flaccid paralysis with brainstem and spinal cord noncompressive lesions on MRI, rare treatable conditions like BD should be considered in developing countries, like India, where still no universal newborn screening facilities are available.
Background Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a ubiquitous herpes virus. It is the most common congenital viral infection. Data on congenital CMV in India are lacking and hence the present study was undertaken. Objectives The aim of the study is to evaluate the clinical and radiological profile of neurological manifestations of congenital CMV infections in tertiary care hospital. Methods This is a retrospective chart review of the clinical and laboratory profile of congenital CMV infections presenting from January 2018 to February 2020 to a tertiary care hospital in Southern India. Details of clinical profile, serological and neuroimaging data were obtained and analyzed. Results A total of 42 cases with female preponderance (57%) were reported during the study period. The mean age of presentation was 2.9 years. Clinical features were developmental delay (81%), microcephaly (93%), seizures (33%), intrauterine growth restriction (19%), neonatal encephalopathy (10%), anemia (9%), jaundice (10%), hepato-splenomegaly (7%), and eye abnormalities (14%). Antenatal maternal fever was reported by 12%. Sensorineural hearing loss was present in 57%. Neuroimaging showed periventricular calcification (79%), cerebral atrophy (69%), ventricular dilatation (55%), malformations (26%), dysmyelination (12%), and temporal lobe cysts (5%). CMV-immunoglobulin-M positivity was seen in 14 cases (33%), urinary polymerase chain reaction for CMV was positive in 21 cases (50%), and clinical diagnosis was done in seven cases (16%). Conclusion Common findings in congenital CMV are microcephaly, developmental delay, seizures, anemia, and sensorineural hearing loss. Common neuroimaging findings are periventricular calcification, cerebral atrophy, malformation, white matter signal changes, and cysts. CMV can mimic like cerebral palsy, malformations of the brain, demyelinating disorders, and calcified leukoencephalopathies like Aicardi-Goutières syndrome.
