Paediatric Imaging

Myelination of brain, delayed

A wide variety of abnormalities may have delayed myelination as part of the spectrum of abnormality seen on MRI. Delayed myelination may encompass dysmyelination and demyelination. The term hypomyelination may refer to disorders involving delay in myelination, failure to maintain normal myelin and destruction of normal myelin (demyelination) as a result of previous insult and production of structurally abnormal myelin (dysmyelination). The causes of delayed myelination include congenital malformations, chromosomal, metabolic and degenerative disorders, hypoxic-ischaemic injury, toxins, irradiation and congenital infection. Reversible delayed myelination may be seen in malnourished children particularly in vitamin B12 deficiency. Also, see myelination abnormal and myelination normal

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