title: Prospective sonographic detection of spina bifida at 11-14 weeks and systematic literature review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To conduct a literature review to assess the effectiveness of first trimester ultrasonographic markers of spina bifida (SB) integrating data with our prospective experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  The analysis of the SB cases that we prospectively detected in the first trimester, between January 2012 and February 2014, and a systematic review of all the papers evaluating the effectiveness of SB ultrasonographic markers at 11-14 weeks, namely brain stem diameter (BS), fourth ventricle/intracranial translucency (IT), cisterna magna (CM), brain stem/occipital bone distance (BSOB), the ratio between BS and BSOB. Some studies assess only the effectiveness of IT, others include more parameters, and few include them all.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We prospectively detected four SB cases, three open (OSB) and one closed (CSB), in a low risk population undergoing first trimester screening. In the three OSB, CM (in 2/3 cases) and BSOB (3/3) distance were below the 5th percentile, BS and BS/BSOB ratio (3/3) were above the 95th percentile. In the CSB, all the measurements were within normal limits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The literature and our data agree that most fetuses with OSB demonstrate in the first trimester positive sonographic markers in the posterior fossa, but additional prospective studies are needed to establish the best protocol for OSB screening.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Palermo and Hospital "V.Cervello" , Palermo , Italy and.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Orlandi
authors.affiliation: b Center for Prenatal Diagnosis , Palermo , Italy.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Palermo and Hospital "V.Cervello" , Palermo , Italy and.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perino
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Palermo and Hospital "V.Cervello" , Palermo , Italy and.
authors.forename: Gaspare
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cucinella
authors.affiliation: b Center for Prenatal Diagnosis , Palermo , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Orlandi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002946:Cisterna Magna / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D020546:Fourth Ventricle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
keywords: Brain stem; cisterna magna; first trimester screening; fossa; intracranial translucency; neural tube defect; posterior; ultrasound