Imaging of Congenital Malformations of Brain: A Pictorial Essay

“A sad end to a happy dream” is what a newborn child with congenital brain anomalies can be to the parents. Nevertheless, diagnosing it correctly is of paramount importance. Imaging plays an important role in reaching the correct diagnosis. It is as important for every pediatrician to be familiar with basic imaging findings of common congenital anomalies, as it is for the radiologist. This pictorial essay attempts to concisely present the imaging features of common congenital anomalies. In this article we will first present a simplified classification of congenital anomalies affecting brain, followed by images and imaging findings of the common and certain uncommon but interesting or important congenital anomalies. Congenital anomalies can be broadly categorized into hindbrain herniations and miscellaneous malformations, hindbrain malformations (Posterior fossa malformations and cysts), disorders of diverticulation and cleavage and malformations of cortical development. In postnatal period, usually CT is the initial diagnostic tool. But MRI is superior to CT in most of the cases.