Prenatal Evaluation, Imaging Features, and Neurodevelopmental Outcome of Prenatally Diagnosed Periventricular Pseudocysts.
Periventricular pseudocysts are cystic cavities that lack the ependymal cell lining found in true cysts. The aim of this study was to characterize periventricular pseudocysts and related findings and their neurodevelopmental outcome.



This was a retrospective study of periventricular pseudocysts detected prenatally on fetal MR imaging in 26 fetuses. The fetuses were divided into group A (n = 8), which included cases with isolated periventricular pseudocysts, and group B (n = 18), which included cases of periventricular pseudocysts with additional findings. Cases were further subdivided into connatal cysts and subependymal pseudocysts. Data collected included prenatal history, MR imaging features, sonographic follow-up, and neurodevelopmental outcome.



All cases in group A (n = 8) had a normal outcome. In group B (n = 18), 6 pregnancies were terminated and 2 had an abnormal outcome. Both cases with an abnormal outcome involved patients with subependymal pseudocysts. No significant association was found between the morphologic features on MR imaging and the neurodevelopmental outcome.



Neurodevelopmental outcome in cases of isolated periventricular pseudocysts detected prenatally appears to be normal. A detailed evaluation should be performed to rule out additional brain findings, chromosomal aberration, and fetal malformation. This evaluation should include the following: maternal TORCH status, detailed fetal sonographic anatomic evaluation, fetal echocardiogram, fetal brain MR imaging, amniocentesis and karyotyping/comparative genomic hybridization, and genetic counseling. Additional findings on MR imaging, including mild-to-moderate dilated ventricles, asymmetric ventricles, or T2 hyperintense signal in the white matter without other findings or major fetal abnormality, appear to be benign. Connatal cysts appear to be benign.
From the Antenatal Diagnostic Unit (S.C., R.A., E.K.), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology shirabe61@gmail.com.
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0000-0002-1653-8863
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Cooper
Department of Pediatric Neurology (O.B.-Y.).
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0000-0002-7052-5238
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Bar-Yosef
The Danek Gertner Institute of Human Genetics (M.B.).
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0000-0003-0561-7088
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Berkenstadt
Department of Diagnostic Radiology (C.H.), Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer, Ramat Gan, Israel; Affiliated with Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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0000-0002-5339-9495
C
Hoffmann
From the Antenatal Diagnostic Unit (S.C., R.A., E.K.), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
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0000-0002-8294-3672
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Achiron
From the Antenatal Diagnostic Unit (S.C., R.A., E.K.), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
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0000-0003-4225-7421
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Katorza
D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003560:Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D059906:Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies