Head and Brain Malformations (Print Version)

Also called: Also called: Cepahalic disorders, Craniofacial disorders

Most brain malformations begin long before a baby is born. Something damages the developing nervous system or causes it to develop abnormally. Sometimes it's a genetic problem. In other cases, exposure to certain medicines, infections or radiation during pregnancy interferes with brain development. Types of brain malformations include missing parts of the brain, abnormal growth of certain parts of the brain, and incomplete division of the brain.

There are head malformations that do not involve the brain. Craniofacial disorders are the result of abnormal growth of soft tissue and bones in the face and head. It's common for new babies to have slightly lopsided heads, but parents should watch the shape of their baby's head for possible problems.

Start Here

Cephalic Disorders(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cephalic_disorders/detail_cephalic_disorders.htm
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/trastornos/los_trastornos_encefalicos.htm
Craniofacial Syndrome Descriptions(Children's Craniofacial Association) - http://www.ccakids.com/syn.asp

Overviews

Cephalic Disorders(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cephalic_disorders/cephalic_disorders.htm

Diagnosis/Symptoms

Computed Tomography (CT) -- Head(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=headct
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=headct
MRI of the Head(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=headmr
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=headmr

Treatment

Gamma-Knife Radiosurgery(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/gamma-knife-radiosurgery/MY00206/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
Neurosurgery - What Is It?(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/whatisneurosurgery/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/whatisneurosurgeryspanish/htm/index.htm

Rehabilitation/Recovery

Cognitive Rehabilitation: Help for Attention, Memory, and Other Problems with Thinking(Angioma Alliance) - http://www.angiomaalliance.org/pages.aspx?content=83

Specific Conditions

About Cavernous Angioma(Angioma Alliance) - http://www.angiomaalliance.org/pages.aspx?content=60
Also available in Spanish http://www.angiomaalliance.org/pages.aspx?content=196&id=185
Absence of the Septum Pellucidum(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/absence_septum_pellucidum/absence_septum_pellucidum.htm
Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/agenesis/agenesis.htm
Aicardi Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/aicardi/aicardi.htm
Arteriovenous Malformations and Other Vascular Lesions of the Central Nervous System(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/avms/detail_avms.htm
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/trastornos/malformaciones_arteriovenosas.htm
Cerebellar Hypoplasia(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cerebellar_hypoplasia/cerebellar_hypoplasia.htm
Cerebral Cavernous Malformation(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cavernous_malformation/cavernous_malformation.htm
Chiari Malformation(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/chiari/chiari.htm
Chiari Malformation(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/chiari/detail_chiari.htm
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/trastornos/malformaciones_de_chiari.htm
Coffin Lowry Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/coffin_lowry/coffin_lowry.htm
Craniosynostosis(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/craniosynostosis/craniosynostosis.htm
Crouzon Syndrome (Craniofacial Dysostosis)(Cleft Palate Foundation) - http://www.cleftline.org/publications/crouzon
Dandy-Walker Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/dandywalker/dandywalker.htm
Guide to Understanding Apert Syndrome(Children's Craniofacial Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.ccakids.com/Syndrome/Apert.PDF
Guide to Understanding Facial Palsy(Children's Craniofacial Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.ccakids.com/Syndrome/FacialPalsy.pdf
Holoprosencephaly(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/holoprosencephaly/holoprosencephaly.htm
Hydranencephaly(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/hydranencephaly/hydranencephaly.htm
Joubert Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/joubert/joubert.htm
Lissencephaly(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/lissencephaly/lissencephaly.htm
Megalencephaly(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/megalencephaly/megalencephaly.htm
Microcephaly(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/microcephaly/microcephaly.htm
Moyamoya Disease(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/moyamoya/moyamoya.htm
Neuronal Migration Disorders(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/neuronal_migration/neuronal_migration.htm
Noonan Syndrome(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/noonan-syndrome/DS00857/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
Porencephaly(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/porencephaly/porencephaly.htm
Schizencephaly(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/schizencephaly/schizencephaly.htm
Septo Optic Dysplasia (SOD)(MAGIC Foundation) - http://www.magicfoundation.org/www/docs/101/septo_optic_dysplasia_optic_nerve_hypoplasia.html
Septo-Optic Dysplasia(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/septo_optic_dysplasia/septo_optic_dysplasia.htm
Sotos Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/sotos/sotos.htm

Related Issues

Baby's Head Shape: What's Normal?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/healthy-baby/PR00043/METHOD=print
Maternal Thyroid Disease as a Risk Factor for Craniosynostosis(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/bd/keyfindings/thyroid.htm

Tutorials

Neurosurgery - What Is It?(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/whatisneurosurgery/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/whatisneurosurgeryspanish/htm/index.htm

Videos

If I Had - A Child Born with Microtia(Insidermedicine) - http://www.insidermedicine.com/Archives/If_I_Had_-_A_Child_Born_With_Microtia_-_Dr_Roland_Eavey_MD_2211.aspx?p=mdlnp
Procedure to Treat Chiari Malformation(OR-Live) - One hour program - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=161

Anatomy/Physiology

Atlas of the Body: The Brain -- Lobes(American Medical Association) - http://www.medem.com/medlib/article/ZZZR9WH46JC
Atlas of the Body: The Brain -- Side View(American Medical Association) - http://www.medem.com/medlib/article/ZZZYUAM46JC
Atlas of the Body: The Skull(American Medical Association) - http://www.medem.com/medlib/article/ZZZCIHWBGJC

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Arnold-Chiari Malformation(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Arnold-Chiari+Malformation%22
ClinicalTrials.gov: Craniofacial Abnormalities(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Craniofacial+Abnormalities%22
ClinicalTrials.gov: Dandy-Walker Syndrome(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Dandy-Walker+Syndrome%22
ClinicalTrials.gov: Nervous System Malformations(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Nervous+System+Malformations%22

Genetics

Genetics Home Reference: Amish lethal microcephaly(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=amishlethalmicrocephaly
Genetics Home Reference: Andermann syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=andermannsyndrome
Genetics Home Reference: Apert syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=apertsyndrome
Genetics Home Reference: Baller-Gerold syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=ballergeroldsyndrome
Genetics Home Reference: Beare-Stevenson cutis gyrata syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=bearestevensoncutisgyratasyndrome
Genetics Home Reference: Cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=cardiofaciocutaneoussyndrome
Genetics Home Reference: Cerebral cavernous malformation(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=cerebralcavernousmalformation
Genetics Home Reference: Cleidocranial dysplasia(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=cleidocranialdysplasia
Genetics Home Reference: Crouzon syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=crouzonsyndrome
Genetics Home Reference: Crouzonodermoskeletal syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=crouzonodermoskeletalsyndrome
Genetics Home Reference: Greig cephalopolysyndactyly syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=greigcephalopolysyndactylysyndrome
Genetics Home Reference: Jackson-Weiss syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=jacksonweisssyndrome
Genetics Home Reference: Muenke syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=muenkesyndrome
Genetics Home Reference: Pallister-Hall syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=pallisterhallsyndrome
Genetics Home Reference: Periventricular heterotopia(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=periventricularheterotopia
Genetics Home Reference: Pfeiffer syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=pfeiffersyndrome
Genetics Home Reference: Saethre-Chotzen syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=saethrechotzensyndrome
Genetics Home Reference: Smith-Magenis syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=smithmagenissyndrome
Genetics Home Reference: Sotos syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=sotossyndrome
Genetics Home Reference: Thanatophoric dysplasia(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=thanatophoricdysplasia
Genetics Home Reference: Trisomy 13(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=trisomy13
Genetics Home Reference: Trisomy 18(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=trisomy18
Genetics Home Reference: X-linked lissencephaly(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=xlinkedlissencephaly

Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Article: Akhenaten and the strange physiques of Egypt's 18th dynasty. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19380856&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Differentiation of hereditary spastic paraparesis from primary lateral sclerosis in... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19364936&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Cleft lip and palate: review. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19351103&tool=MedlinePlus
Head and Brain Malformations -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=((nervous+system+malformations[majr]+NOT+neural+tube+defects[mh])+OR+craniofacial+abnormalities[majr])+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus

Directories

Find a Board-Certified Neurosurgeon(American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons) - http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/findaneuro/
Find a Neurologist(American Academy of Neurology) - http://www.thebrainmatters.org/index.cfm?key=1.2.2
Laboratory Directory-GeneReviews(University of Washington) - http://www.genetests.org/servlet/access?id=8888891&key=xW0l31Z2a4hTc&fcn=y&fw=XPF9&filename=/labsearch/searchdztest.html
Qualified Centers for Craniofacial Plastic Reconstructive Surgery(Children's Craniofacial Association) - http://www.ccakids.com/prgQC.asp

Organizations

Children's Craniofacial Association - http://www.ccakids.com/
GeneTests(University of Washington) - http://www.genetests.org/
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/defaultspan.htm
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/

Women

Pregnancy and Cavernous Malformation(Angioma Alliance) - http://www.angiomaalliance.org/pages.aspx?content=86

You may also be interested in these MedlinePlus related pages:

Birth Defects - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/birthdefects.html
Brain Diseases - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/braindiseases.html
Hydrocephalus - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hydrocephalus.html
Neural Tube Defects - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/neuraltubedefects.html
Brain and Nerves - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/brainandnerves.html
Genetics/Birth Defects - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/geneticsbirthdefects.html

The primary NIH organization for research on Head and Brain Malformations is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/