The incidence and spectrum of central nervous system malformations in newborns over a decade (2001-2010) in the Central Region of Saudi Arabia.

Objective: To study the incidence and spectrum of central nervous system (CNS) malformations confirmed by computerized tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a Saudi newborn population of Riyadh over a 10-year period, and to compare our findings with those in the published literature.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on all inborn babies admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Riyadh Military Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that underwent CT or MRI of the brain and spine from January 2001 to December 2010. Out born babies, babies who sustained birth asphyxia, and premature babies were excluded from the study.

Results: During the study period, 849 imaging studies were carried out, and from these 248 babies with CNS malformations were identified. Specific syndromes associated with CNS malformations occurred in 58 (23.4%). Dysraphism was found in 42 babies (16.9%) (25 spinal and 17 cranial). Hydrocephalus was present in 30 (12.1%), cortical malformations occurred in 31 (12.5%), which was dominated by abnormal cell migration in 20. Cerebellar and posterior fossa abnormalities were diagnosed in 44 (17.7%), Dandy-Walker syndrome in 15, and Joubert syndrome in 12. Prosencephalic pathology was seen in 39 (15.7%), commissural abnormalities in 29, while there was holoprosencephaly in 12. Vascular malformations were found in 4 babies (1.4%).

Conclusion: This study showed a wide spectrum of malformations, with all CNS malformations confirmed by advanced imaging techniques.