Fetal central nervous system abnormalities.
The advances in the sonographic imaging of the fetus have made the detailed examination of the fetal central nervous system (CNS) a routine part of the prenatal sonogram. A logical sonographic approach to the diagnosis of fetal CNS abnormalities is presented, based on the normal sonographic anatomy and the understanding of CNS pathology. This approach results in a classification of CNS abnormalities derived from ultrasound findings. The main categories are (1) hydrocephalus, (2) entities that mimic hydrocephalus, and (3) neural tube defects. Once a disorder is classified and all ultrasound abnormalities identified, a differential diagnosis can be developed.
State University of New York Health Science Center, Syracuse.
B A
BA
Spirt
M
M
Oliphant
L P
LP
Gordon
D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000002:abnormalities*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D013131:Spine / Q000002:abnormalities; D014463:Ultrasonography