Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Indonesian Patients with Cerebral Palsy

Purpose: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurological health problem that affects children around the world and warrants particular attention. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to visualize brain disorders, as it provides a clear view of the brain’s anatomy, including the location of any damage or structural abnormalities. The objective of this study was to obtain a detailed MRI representation of patients with CP. Methods: This study employed a retrospective design involving the examination of medical records. It included CP patients aged between 1 and 16 years who had undergone brain MRI examinations. The Gross Motor Function Classification System scale was used to classify limitations in functional motor ability among these patients. The brain MRI results were categorized as either normal or abnormal. Results: Of 60 CP cases, 50% were classified as severe, with the remaining cases considered mild to moderate. Epilepsy was present in 66.7% of patients with severe CP. The most common type of CP, among both mild-to-moderate and severe cases, was quadriplegia. Gray matter lesions on brain MRI were more common in severe than mild-to-moderate cases, while vascular insult lesions and brain malformations were less frequent. A significant difference was observed in the severity of CP when a gray matter lesion was present on MRI. Conclusion: Most children with CP exhibited abnormal results on brain MRI. Lesions of the white and gray matter were the most frequently observed. MRI plays a crucial role in understanding the underlying pathological brain abnormalities in CP.