Neuroimaging in Mentally Retarded Iraqi Children

Abstract

Background: mental retardation is a common clinical problem in pediatrics, it present during infancy or preschool years as developmental delay.

Objectives: to determine the diagnostic yield of neuroimaging in children with mental retardation of unknown origin.

Methods: Neuroimaging (Computerized Tomography CT scan) was performed in a total of 59 patients with developmental delay/mental retardation, in AL‐Yarmuk Teaching hospital in Baghdad from September 2006 to June 2008 where no etiological diagnosis could be made following clinical examination and preliminary investigations.

Results: Forty one (69%) had abnormal neuroimaging findings of which 13 (22%) were specific abnormalities useful in arriving at etiological diagnosis. Positive outcome of neuroimaging increased with the severity of mental retardation, presence of microcephaly and other neurologic deficits other than MR.

Conclusions: Neuroimaging (CT scan) should be the standard clinical practice for a child with global developmental delay where no cause is apparent after examination and relevant investigations.