Etymed
microcephaly
Definition
A medical condition characterized by an abnormally small head and brain due to abnormal development or loss of brain tissue
Clinical context
A 3-month-old infant presents with significant developmental delay and a head circumference that is 3 standard deviations below the mean for age and sex. Neurological examination reveals intellectual disability and distinctive facial features including a prominent forehead and downward slanting eyes. Brain imaging shows reduced brain volume with abnormal cortical development. The infant's mother reports normal pregnancy and delivery, but the child has had progressive microcephaly since birth.
Mnemonic
MICROcephaly = Micro = Small brain, Cerebellum = Brain, R = Reduced brain tissue, O = Occipital bones, E = Enlarged ventricles, C = Cortical malformations, Y = Young age of onset