title: The utility of infection screening in isolated mild ventriculomegaly: an observational retrospective study on 141 fetuses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of screening for infections in case of isolated mild ventriculomegaly (imVM).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 141 cases of imVM. Screening for infections including TORCH, parvovirus B19, and syphilis was carried out in all cases. Follow-up ultrasound, fetal karyotype, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were offered. Postnatal follow-up was obtained from pediatricians, medical records, parents, and postmortem reports in cases of termination of pregnancy or stillbirth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The imVM was bilateral in 70 fetuses and unilateral in 71 and regressed during pregnancy in 66.6% of cases. Associated anomalies were observed in 15 cases with follow-up ultrasound and in seven cases with MRI. Fetal karyotype was abnormal in one fetus (47, XXY). Maternal IgM for parvovirus B19 resulted positive in 4.6% of cases, and one neonate was infected without any fetal/neonatal adverse consequence. Recent cytomegalovirus infection was documented in 4.4% of cases. Only in one case the infection was transmitted to the fetus; after 3 years, the child has good neuromotor development but has severe hearing impairment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When this diagnosis occurs, tests could be limited to cytomegalovirus and parvovirus B19, whereas a complete TORCH screening is probably not necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Science for Woman and Child's Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pasquini
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Masini
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaini
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franchi
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trotta
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dani
authors.forename: Mariarosaria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Tommaso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000821:virology*; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult