[Cytomegalovirus fetal infection. Porencephaly with polymicrogyria in a 15-year-old boy].

A boy, born after 41 weeks of gestation, presented with splenomegaly, microcephaly and chorioretinitis accompanied by immaturity signs. His mother was in good health but her previous pregnancy had been aborted owing to rubella. Laboratory data, including serological and virological evidence, confirmed the diagnosis of fetal cytomegalovirus infection. CT scan indicated a large cyst in the left temporal lobe and periventricular calcifications. At about 8 months of age, convulsions were noticed which were not controlled effectively by medication. There was spastic rigidity without significant psychomotor development. He died at the age of 15. Postmortem neuropathological examination revealed polymicrogyria predominant in the right cerebral hemisphere as well as a large cavity in the left temporal lobe communicating with the lateral ventricle. Widespread heterotopias and calcifications were observed notably in the periventricular white matter. No typical inclusion was found. By the method of Holzer and GFAP immunocytochemistry, no gliosis was noted in the cerebral cortex having the feature of polymicrogyria. This might support the theory that polymicrogyria is caused by neuronal migration failure.