Hemivertebra: prenatal diagnosis, incidence and characteristics.
OBJECTIVE
Hemivertebra is a rare congenital spinal anomaly where only one side of the vertebral body develops, resulting in deformation of the spine, such as scoliosis, lordosis, or kyphosis. We aimed to determine the incidence and clinical characteristics of hemivertebra.


METHODS
We present three fetuses with a prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of hemivertebra at 15-22 weeks' gestation, and we determine the incidence and clinical characteristics of hemivertebra among 78,500 live-born infants at a tertiary medical center in Israel.


RESULTS
There were 26 cases of hemivertebra (0.33/1,000 live-born infants): male/female ratio 1/1, Jewish/Arab ratio 10/16, and ratio of single/multiple type of hemivertebrae 17/9. Twenty-three out of 26 infants (88.5%) with hemivertebra had additional congenital anomalies (cranial, cardiac, renal, intestinal, and skeletal).


CONCLUSIONS
Hemivertebra is not an infrequent finding in fetuses and live-born infants. Comprehensive ultrasonographic screening of the fetus allows early prenatal diagnosis of hemivertebra, and provides parents with helpful information for their decision regarding the fate of pregnancy.
Goldstein
Israel
I
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rambam Medical Center, and Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel.
Makhoul
Imad R
IR
Weissman
Amir
A
Drugan
Arie
A
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011859:Radiography; D012042:Registries; D013131:Spine / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal