Prenatal diagnosis of diastematomyelia in a 15-week-old fetus.
OBJECTIVE
A case of prenatal diagnosis of diastematomyelia is presented.


METHODS
A case of fetal diastematomyelia, diagnosed by prenatal sonography, demonstrated the typical sonographic features of this condition. In this case it was detected at 15 weeks of gestation, and presented with a midline echogenic focus in the posterior region of the thoracolumbar spine.


RESULTS
The pregnancy was terminated by induction of labor. The fetus was female and there was a 1-cm long endurated hyperemic lesion at the back of the fetus. We confirmed the diagnosis of diastematomyelia after termination of pregnancy by plain chest and abdominal X-ray and also MRI scanning.


CONCLUSIONS
Isolated diastematomyelia is a rare form of spinal dysraphism characterized by a sagittal cleft in the spinal cord, conus medullaris and/or filum terminale with splaying of the posterior vertebral elements. Prenatal diagnosis of this anomaly is possible in the early mid-trimester by sonography, thus allowing for early surgical intervention and a favorable prognosis.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. aydanbiri1965@yahoo.com
A A
AA
Biri
A B
AB
Turp
M
M
Kurdoğlu
O
O
Himmetoğlu
N
N
Tokgöz Ercan
S
S
Balci
D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000002:abnormalities*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal