Cerebral Microgyria in a 27-Week Fetus: An Architectonic and Topographic Analysis

Abstract

The cytoarchitecture and topography of a case of restricted cerebral microgyria in a 27-week fetus are analyzed in whole brain serial sections. The cytoarchitectonic features of the four microgyric layers and their continuity with the layers of normal cortex imply that microgyria is the result of a post-migratory encephaloclastic event resulting in laminar destruction of the middle cortical layers. The distribution of the abnormality in this and other cases suggests that the etiology of this laminar destruction may be intra-uterine hypoxia or perfusion failure.