General description

Dyke-Davidoff-Masson syndrome (DDMS) is a neurological condition characterized by atrophy or underdevelopment of one cerebral hemisphere, usually due to brain damage occurring during fetal development or early childhood. This condition is often associated with compensatory thickening of the skull, enlargement of the frontal sinus, and other structural changes on the affected side. Clinical manifestations vary depending on the severity of brain injury but commonly include recurrent seizures, facial asymmetry, contralateral hemiparesis or hemiplegia, intellectual disability, and speech and language disorders.

The syndrome can be classified into congenital and acquired forms. The congenital form arises from factors such as infection, vascular occlusion, or anomalies in unilateral cerebral circulation during gestation or the neonatal period, leading to symptoms in infancy. The acquired form results from trauma, tumors, infections, ischemia, hemorrhage, or prolonged febrile seizures.