A small pons as a characteristic finding in Down syndrome: A quantitative MRI study

Abstract Background Down syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosomal aberration, but the characteristics of the brainstemcomponent in this condition during childhood (from newborn to preteen stages) have not been clarified. Objective To evaluate the morphological features of the brainstemin DS on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and methods MRIs for 32 children with DS (16 boys and girls each; age range, 0–11 years) without major brain insults, and 32 age-matched controls (16 boys and girls each) were retrospectively analyzed. Height, width, and area of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongatawere measured on sagittal T1-weighted images; these were compared in children with DS and age-matched controls. The ratios of the brainstemto the size of the posterior fossa (BS/PF index) were calculated; these were also compared in the children with DS and the control group. Results The width and area of the midbrain; height, width, area of the pons; and area of the medulla oblongatawere significantly smaller in children with DS than in control children ( P P Conclusions Children with DS may have small brainstems, particularly in the pons; this may be a characteristic morphological feature of the brainstemon MRI in childhood including neonates.