Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum

COMPLETE or partial agenesis of the corpus callosum is uncommon especially in adults; the incidence amongst patients in institutions where numerous air encephalograms are performed is 3% (Carpenter and Drukemiller, 1953). Reil (1812) published the first report of a case, describing the necropsy findings in a 30 year old woman of low mentality; further cases discovered at necropsy were subsequently reported (Urquardth, 1880; Richter, 1886; Bruce, 1889; Dunn, 1889; Cameron, 1917; de Large, 1925). Baker and Graves (1933) reviewed 83 cases, in a wide variety of age groups, first diagnosed at necropsy. The diagnosis during life was first made by Davidoff and Dyke (1934) using pneumo-encephalography; the pneumo-encephalographic features had been observed by Guttman (1929) but their significance was not appreciated until necropsy revealed complete agenesis. Fukai, Oguma and Sujiyama (1960) reviewed 187 cases of complete and partial agenesis; 130 cases were proven at necropsy, 57 diagnosed by pneumo-ence phalography only. Since their review a further 22 cases have been reported, 7 diagnosed or confirmed at necropsy, 15 diagnosed by pneumo-encephalography only. The function of the corpus callosum, originally regarded as the seat of the soul (Mingazzini, 1922), has been much, discussed both on the evidence from cases of complete and partial agenesis and from that following surgical division in man and experimental animals. No characteristic clinical syndrome accompanies complete or partial agenesis of the corpus callosum nor are there any specific neurological or psychiatric accompaniments. In some cases of congenital agenesis there are no readily detected deficiencies; the 25th such case, which is also the 17th asymptomatic adult with complete agenesis, is here reported with a short review of the literature.