Prenatal diagnosis of a fetus with lumbar myelocystocele.
We present a case of a fetal lumbar myelocystocele, a rare congenital malformation, characterized by herniation of the central canal through a bony spina bifida. Routine ultrasound examination at 11 weeks' gestation by the primary obstetrician showed a suspicious cyst on the fetal back. Initially, the suspected diagnosis was a meningocele. After sonographic detection of newly developed fetal brain anomalies at 22 weeks' gestation the patient was referred to us. The enlarged cyst, which floated freely in the amniotic fluid, had a funnel-like appearance and was covered by a very thin layer of skin. With the help of ultrafast fetal magnetic resonance imaging the diagnosis of a fetal myelocystocele was made.
Kölble
N
N
Unit of Perinatal Physiology, Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. nicole.koelble@fhk.usz.ch
Huisman
T A
TA
Stallmach
T
T
Meuli
M
M
Zen Ruffinen Imahorn
F
F
Zimmermann
R
R
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal