title: Prenatal isolated mild ventriculomegaly is associated with persistent ventricle enlargement at ages 1 and 2.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Enlargement of the lateral ventricles is thought to originate from abnormal prenatal brain development and is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Fetal isolated mild ventriculomegaly (MVM) is associated with the enlargement of lateral ventricle volumes in the neonatal period and developmental delays in early childhood. However, little is known about postnatal brain development in these children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight children with fetal isolated MVM and 56 matched controls were followed at ages 1 and 2 years with structural imaging on a 3T Siemens scanner and assessment of cognitive development with the Mullen Scales of Early Learning. Lateral ventricle, total gray and white matter volumes, and Mullen cognitive composite scores and subscale scores were compared between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to controls, children with prenatal isolated MVM had significantly larger lateral ventricle volumes at ages 1 and 2 years. Lateral ventricle volume at 1 and 2 years of age was significantly correlated with prenatal ventricle size. Enlargement of the lateral ventricles was associated with increased intracranial volumes and increased gray and white matter volumes. Children with MVM had Mullen composite scores similar to controls, although there was evidence of delay in fine motor and expressive language skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with prenatal MVM have persistent enlargement of the lateral ventricles through the age of 2 years; this enlargement is associated with increased gray and white matter volumes and some evidence of delay in fine motor and expressive language development. Further study is needed to determine if enlarged lateral ventricles are associated with increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States.
authors.forename: Amanda E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Lyall
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Woolson
authors.forename: Honor M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: Barbara Davis
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: J Steven
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Reznick
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hamer
authors.forename: Weili
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Styner
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerig
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Gilmore
mesh_terms: D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal