title: Prenatal ultrasound predictors of postnatal major cerebral abnormalities in fetuses with apparently isolated mild ventriculomegaly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aim to examine the incidence of major cerebral abnormalities on postnatal imaging in cases with isolated mild ventriculomegaly on fetal sonography and to evaluate the relationship between the presence or absence of such defects and prenatal ultrasound factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched our databases to identify all cases with mild ventriculomegaly (10-15 mm) and no other major structural abnormalities on prenatal ultrasound, with normal karyotype and no evidence of maternal or fetal infection. For each case, we retrieved data on prenatal ultrasound follow-up, fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), neonatal ultrasound and/or brain MRI, and pregnancy outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postnatal imaging revealed a major cerebral abnormality in 9 (6.9%) of 130 live borns with isolated mild ventriculomegaly on prenatal ultrasound. In six (66.7%) of nine cases, the abnormality was known or suspected prenatally on fetal MRI. Multivariate analysis showed that the only significant contribution to the prediction of major cerebral abnormalities was provided by persistence or progression of ventricular enlargement on serial ultrasound examinations (p = 0.001, odds ratio 21.1 [95% confidence interval: 3.6-122.7]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prenatal ultrasound follow-up identifies fetuses at higher risk for a major cerebral abnormality among cases with isolated mild ventriculomegaly. In cases with persistent or progressive enlargement, fetal MRI and postnatal imaging seem appropriate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 'L. Mangiagalli', Fondazione IRCCS 'Ca' Granda' - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.|University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Baffero
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 'L. Mangiagalli', Fondazione IRCCS 'Ca' Granda' - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.|University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crovetto
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 'L. Mangiagalli', Fondazione IRCCS 'Ca' Granda' - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fabietti
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 'L. Mangiagalli', Fondazione IRCCS 'Ca' Granda' - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boito
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 'L. Mangiagalli', Fondazione IRCCS 'Ca' Granda' - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fogliani
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Fondazione IRCCS 'Ca' Granda' - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fumagalli
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Neuroradiology, Fondazione IRCCS 'Ca' Granda' - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Triulzi
authors.affiliation: University of Milan, Milan, Italy.|Department of Neonatology, Fondazione IRCCS 'Ca' Granda' - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mosca
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 'L. Mangiagalli', Fondazione IRCCS 'Ca' Granda' - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.|University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fedele
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 'L. Mangiagalli', Fondazione IRCCS 'Ca' Granda' - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Persico
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009421:Nervous System Malformations / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal