pediatrics
Cerebral Palsy (CP)
Differential diagnosis
CP should be differentiated from progressive hereditary neurologic disorders and disorders requiring surgical or other specific neurologic treatments. Ataxic CP is particularly hard to distinguish, and in many children with persistent ataxia, a progressive cerebellar degenerative disorder is ultimately identified as the cause. Athetosis, self-mutilation, and hyperuricemia in boys indicate Lesch-Nyhan syndrome . Cutaneous or ocular abnormalities may indicate Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) , Infantile spinal muscular atrophy, muscular dystrophies, and neuromuscular junction disorders associated with hypotonia and hyporeflexia usually lack signs of cerebral disease. X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy begins later in childhood, but other leukodystrophies begin earlier and may be mistaken for CP at first. 