title: Isolated mild fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly: a retrospective analysis of 26 cases.
abstract: We retrospectively studied 26 fetuses with isolated mild cerebral ventriculomegaly diagnosed between 1992 and 1998 and defined by a lateral ventricular atrial diameter of 10-15 mm without any other cerebral anomaly. Our objectives were to determine maternal risk factors, to evaluate complementary investigations, to assess developmental prognosis and to propose possible management. During pregnancy 10/26 patients had regressive ventriculomegalies, ten remained borderline at birth and six were confirmed postnatally. No maternal risk factors were identified. Prenatal investigations were carried out in 69% of cases but in only a few cases supplied any information. Postnatal examinations revealed one case of Down syndrome and one of porencephaly. Four children were lost to follow-up. In the 22 other cases, four had developmental delay. Early and unexplained mild ventriculomegaly appears to have a good prognosis. If ventriculomegaly is persistent, prenatal management should be carried out to investigate chromosomal abnormalities, viral infection, and fetal cerebral parenchymal damage. A long postnatal clinical follow-up is required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Rouen University Hospital Charles Nicolle, Rouen, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mercier
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eurin
authors.forename: P Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Mercier
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Verspyck
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marpeau
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marret
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000002:abnormalities*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal