MRI Diagnosis of Lissencephaly in a Neonate with Neonatal Jaundice: A Case Study in Ghana

Lissencephaly is a rare and severe neurodevelopmental disorder caused by defective neuronal migration during the first trimester of embryogenesis, resulting in a smooth cerebral cortex lacking normal gyri and sulci. We present case report of a female neonate, less than one month old who was admitted to NICU at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana, presenting with neonatal jaundice and an elongated cranial shape. Further investigations, with a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) on a Toshiba Achieva 1.5 Tesla scanner, revealed bilateral frontoparietal and temporal lissencephaly, absence of the septum pellucidum, basal ganglia fusion with poor internal capsule definition, and ventricular dilation. These findings were consistent with lissencephaly, likely resulting from tubulinopathy, coexisting with lobar holoprosencephaly. A multidisciplinary approach was employed in the management of this neonate. This case highlights the importance of MRI in diagnosing and understanding complex congenital brain anomalies, particularly in resource-limited settings like Ghana.