Porencephaly secondary to fetal trauma during amniocentesis.
BACKGROUND
There has been one reported case of porencephaly diagnosed postnatally as a result of amniocentesis. We report the first antenatal diagnosis of porencephaly, which apparently resulted from penetration of the fetal skull during amniocentesis.


METHODS
A 37-year-old woman had genetic amniocentesis at 16 weeks' gestation. The fetal skull was penetrated during the unguided procedure. Porencephaly discovered at 28 weeks' gestation was confirmed by imaging studies in the neonatal period.


CONCLUSIONS
Inadvertent fetal skull penetration appeared to result from amniocentesis unguided by continuous ultrasound.
Eller
K M
KM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
Kuller
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001034:Apgar Score; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D014695:Cerebral Ventriculography; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D049188:Prenatal Injuries; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal