Fetal Callosal Anomalies: A Narrative Review and Practical Recommendations for Pediatric Neurologists

Andrea C. Pardo, Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.
Sonika Agarwal, Division of Neurology & Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Division of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Brigitte Vollmer, Faculty of Medicine, Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; Paediatric and Neonatal Neurology, Southampton Children's Hospital, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
Charu Venkatesan, Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Barbara Scelsa, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Buzzi Children's Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Monic E. Lemmon, Department of Pediatrics and Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina.
Sarah B. Mulkey, Zickler Family Prenatal Pediatrics Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia; Departments of Neurology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia; Division of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia.
Mark Scher, Emeritus Full Professor Pediatrics and Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.
Anthony R. Hart, Department of Paediatric Neurology, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Dawn Gano, Department of Neurology & Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
Tomo Tarui, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Hasbro Children's. Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Department of Pediatrics, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, Rhode Island. Electronic address: tomo_tarui@brown.edu.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2-10-2025

Journal

Pediatric neurology

Volume

165

DOI

10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2025.01.022

Keywords

Agenesis of the corpus callosum; Fetal brain MRI; Fetal neurology; Fetal sequencing; Prenatal diagnosis; Prognostication

Abstract

Agenesis of the corpus callosum is a common indication for fetal neurology consultation, increasingly identified through advances in fetal sonography and fetal magnetic resonance imaging. Despite improvements in diagnostic accuracy, prognostic counseling is challenging due to highly variable neurodevelopmental outcomes. Several factors contribute to neurodevelopmental outcome variability, including associated anomalies and etiologic considerations such as genetic, acquired, and environmental factors. This narrative review discusses existing literature on prenatal findings, postnatal outcomes, and comorbidities to provide practical guidelines for prenatal diagnosis, counseling, and postnatal management. Additionally, practice and research gaps are identified to advocate for guidelines to improve counseling, management, and optimization of outcomes for affected children and families.

Department

Neurology

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