Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Infants with Benign Enlargement of the Subarachnoid Space

OBJECTIVE: Benign enlargement of the subarachnoid space (BESS) is the most common cause of macrocephaly in infants. This study aimed to evaluate the neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants with BESS. MATERIALS & METHODS: In this follow-up study, all records of infants diagnosed with BESS in 2012-2016 were assessed. A clinical follow-up examination was carried out at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of age to assess the macrocephaly outcomes. Denver Developmental Screening Test-II (DDST-II) was used for evaluating the psychomotor development of infants at 24 months of age. All data were entered in SPSS Version 13, and descriptive statistics were measured. RESULTS: Out of 32 infants included in this study, 28 (87.5%) were boys. Five cases of prematurity history (15.6%), and 23 cases of macrocephaly in the family (71.9%) were recorded. The mean age of BESS diagnosis was 6.8 months (SD=3.2). subdural hematoma was reported in one infant (3.1%). Also, 28 infants showed macrocephaly at 18 months of age (83.3%). Seven patients had developmental delay, according to DDST-II (22%). The mean head circumference at birth and six months of age was significantly greater in infants with developmental delay compared to those with normal development. There was a significant difference between the mean head circumference at birth (P=0.05) and the mean head circumference at six months of age (P=0.02). CONCLUSION: Developmental delay is frequent in BESS infants, especially those with macrocephaly at birth and six months of age, and requires medical attention.