title: Criteria for the prenatal diagnosis of holoprosencephaly.
abstract: Holoprosencephaly is a congenital anomaly of the central nervous system whose prenatal sonographic appearance may to similar to that of ventriculomegaly. A clear differential diagnosis is extremely important because the two conditions have different prognoses and therefore require different obstetric management. Eight cases of prenatally recognized holoprosencephaly are analyzed and criteria for a specific diagnosis proposed. The specificity and limitations of ultrasound findings, such as identification of a holoventricle, presence of a dorsal sac, and facial anomalies are discussed.
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities*; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000002:abnormalities; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005145:Face / Q000002:abnormalities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis; D014463:Ultrasonography