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The midsagittal view of the fetal brain: a useful landmark in recognizing the cause of fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly

  • Vincenzo D'Addario , Vincenzo Pinto , Luca Di Cagno and Armando Pintucci
Published/Copyright: September 13, 2005
Journal of Perinatal Medicine
From the journal Volume 33 Issue 5

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the positive predictive value of the midsagittal view of the fetal brain in recognizing the cause of ventriculomegaly diagnosed with traditional axial scan.

Methods: Fifty-eight pregnant women, referred to our Center following a generic diagnosis of ventriculomegaly have been evaluated: 38 had marked and 20 had borderline ventriculomegaly. The fetal brain was scanned by the midsagittal view using a transabdominal probe in fetuses in breech presentation or transverse lie and a transvaginal probe in fetuses in cephalic presentation. The possible cause of ventriculomegaly was postulated by combining the findings of the corpus callosum/cavum septi pellucidi complex with those of the posterior fossa. The prenatal diagnoses were compared with the anatomical specimens of aborted fetuses or with postnatal neuroimaging.

Results: The prenatal diagnoses were confirmed in 54/58 cases (PPV 93.1%). In the marked ventriculomegaly group, one case of partial agenesis of the corpus callosum was mistaken for a complete agenesis. In the group of borderline ventriculomegaly, two cases of partial agenesis of the corpus callosum were confused with a complete agenesis, while one case of suspected isolated ventriculomegaly was diagnosed after birth as partial agenesis of the corpus callosum.

Conclusions: The sagittal scan of the fetal brain is a useful source of information and allows the contemporary view of both corpus callosum and posterior fossa, where various typical sonographic findings are present in ventriculomegaly.

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Corresponding author: Prof. Vincenzo D'Addario Fetal Medicine Unit Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology Ospedale Policlinico Piazza G. Cesare 70124 Bari, Italy Tel.: +390805478931 Fax: +390805478928

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Published Online: 2005-09-13
Published in Print: 2005-10-01

©2005 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York

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