Patient's question:
My daughter just turned 5 months old, weighing 7 kilograms, with a height of 68 centimeters and a head circumference of 41.5 centimeters. She can hold her head up for long periods while lying prone and can roll from supine to side position, occasionally rolling to prone position. She underwent an intelligence assessment, which showed delays in language, cognitive, and social development. Could this be related to her slightly widened extra-axial spaces?Doctor's answer:
Enlargement of the extra-axial space is an imaging diagnosis observed during head CT or MRI scans of infants. Regarding head size, it is a normal phenomenon in healthy infants. This is because the skull grows relatively quickly, while the brain tissue grows more slowly. As a result, a gap may appear between the brain and the skull. Over time, as the infant's brain develops, this gap can gradually disappear. Later, when the brain tissue begins to grow slightly faster than before, the gap will gradually close. However, if the infant is significantly behind their peers in gross motor and cognitive development, it is important to consult a doctor. If the infant's gross motor and cognitive development is normal compared to their peers, follow-up may be sufficient. If necessary, parents can seek advice from a doctor regarding feeding, caregiving, or motor and cognitive training.