title: Dilated cerebral venous system observed in growth-restricted fetuses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The dilation of the fetal cerebral veins is a rare phenomenon that may be associated to a bad obstetric outcome, and is usually connected to antenatal thrombosis of the posterior dural venous sinuses. There are several descriptions of cerebral vein distension on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but all of them are detected postnatally. We present herein two cases of fetal antenatal cerebral dilation of the venous system, without any association to any sign of vein thrombosis, and a systematic review of literature regarding pathogenesis, diagnosis and outcomes associated to the antenatal detection of this condition with the use of MRI.
  
  
  METHODS
  To identify potentially eligible studies, we searched PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library (all from inception to October 20th, 2016) and applied no language restrictions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The electronic database search provided a total of 22,843 results. After the exclusion of duplicates, manuscripts that resulted not relevant to the review based on title and abstract screening, and analysis of manuscripts eligible for full-text assessment, no papers were found related to the subject reported in the present manuscript.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our report adds importance to MRI as a tool in cases of complex ultrasound finding with the presence of fetal heart failure and deterioration of fetal growth, in order to improve the prognostic evaluation and patient?s counseling.
authors.affiliation: a US Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Soroka University Medical Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva , Israel.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.affiliation: a US Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Soroka University Medical Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva , Israel.
authors.forename: Salvatore Andrea
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mastrolia
authors.affiliation: b Department of Radiology , Soroka University Medical Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva , Israel.
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shelef
authors.affiliation: a US Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Soroka University Medical Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva , Israel.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tirosh
authors.affiliation: c US Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Emek Medical Center , Afula , Israel.
authors.forename: Etty
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Daniel-Spiegel
authors.affiliation: a US Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Soroka University Medical Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva , Israel.
authors.forename: Reli
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hershkovitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D002585:Cesarean Section; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia; D011247:Pregnancy; D059285:Pregnancy, Twin; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology
keywords: Cerebrovascular circulation; IUGR; MRI; fetal brain