Comments on: Reporting Medical Cases as Human Interest Stories: Chase Britton Edition

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 02:05:36 +0000

@Dr. Novella – Ah, fair point. But watching the video of the news story on YouTube, the doctor (I’m not sure if he was the primary doctor or just some quack they found to make a soundbite) seemed doubtful whether there was any cerebellum during development – of course, that didn’t stop him from claiming that there was. I assumed this doubt was because the quality of the ultrasounds weren’t good enough to make any certain judgements.

I know that previous complications resulted in the doctors performing more ultrasounds than standard practice, but to get scans of the brain wouldn’t they have had to use higher frequency imaging? What would the doctors have been looking for that would require that level of imaging?

Your atrophy theory does sound more plausible to me though, and I suppose if you’re able to have a look at the scans you’ll be able to know one way or the other.

Thanks for the reply.

By: Steven Novella

Steven Novella — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:02:44 +0000

Mike – apparently early sonograms showed the presence of a cerebellum. So this cannot be complete agenesis.

If these sonograms are correct, then the cerebellum must have atrophied. It’s possible it was so small that it was just resorbed. Perhaps there is more going on than just failure to develop – such as something causing actual damage to the cerebellum. But the MRI did not show evidence of this.

By: cyn1972

cyn1972 — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:49:29 +0000

I have a nephew with the same condition. My brother would LOVE to speak to the parents of Chase. I saw pictures of Chase and it was like looking at a picture of my nephew 15 years ago. My brother would love to speak with you! My e-mail info is cyn1972@aol.com – please contact me!

By: Watcher

Watcher — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:03:12 +0000

Heather, you may want to email Steve if you want something done quickly.

By: shallit

shallit — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 15:15:40 +0000

There’s a related case reported by Lorber:

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/210/4475/1232

I gather Lorber’s claims were somewhat exaggerated – but do you know anything more about that case?

By: dhbritish

dhbritish — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 14:03:45 +0000

Any way you could remove my more detailed posts? I’m finding more and more links to this and had thought it was a more quiet forum of professionals. THANK YOU!!!!

By: Watcher

Watcher — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:02:32 +0000

This should be on SBM, or at least a link to here on the website. Although, maybe there would be too many cooks in the kitchen at that point. Then again, people from such a diverse number fields could be helpful in the discussion.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 08:19:54 +0000

Dr Novella: If it turns out that your explanation is wrong (and the total cerebellum is missing, rather than just being atrophied), then surely wouldn’t this just be a case of cerebellar agenesis? There have been a few cases of this, I think, with the most famous just being known by the initials H.C.

Then, as mentioned by others above, neuroplasticity helps to compensate for some of the lost functions.

Great article though, and it’s encouraging to see Chase’s mother is taking an active interest in her son. I think all too often people will hear that (idiot) doctor’s opinion that their son has the “brain of a vegetable” and stop asking any more questions..

By: norrisL

norrisL — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 04:51:47 +0000

Not suggesting for one moment that this applies in any way to Chase, but as veterinarian I am aware that the feline panleucopaenia virus will cause kittens to suffer from cerebellar hypoplasia. These kittens can survive although would tend to be a little inccordinated, depending upon the degree of cerebellar hypoplasia.
All the best to Chase
Stuart

By: roro

roro — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:31:34 +0000

I wonder if neuroplasticity is at work full-time what parts of Chase’s brain are compensating for the deficit?