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Ventriculomegaly (VM) is defined as an enlargement of the lateral ventricles of the developing fetal brain. The diagnosis is easily made by measuring the lateral ventricle width at the level of the atrium, which is normally <10 mm. VM is defined as mild when the atrial width is 10–12 mm, moderate 12–15 mm, severe >15 mm. VM is a non-specific sonographic sign which is common to different pathological entities and genetic conditions. When no associated anomaly can be found VM is defined as isolated. Since the prognosis of fetal VM mainly depends on the presence of associated anomalies, a careful diagnostic approach is necessary to rule out CNS and extra- CNS fetal anomalies. Magnetic Resonance Imaging can be a useful diagnostic tool complementary to ultrasound in order to recognize subtle brain anomalies, particularly cortical disorders. In this review the diagnostic approach to fetal VM will be discussed starting from ultrasound screening, moving to neurosonographic and MRI examination and genetic evaluation, in order to recognize the cause of VM and offer the appropriate counselling to the parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dilatation of the fetal cerebral ventricles (ventriculomegaly) is a generic sonographic sign that is common to several pathological entities carrying different prognoses. The main causes of fetal ventriculomegaly are aqueductal stenosis, Chiari II malformation, Dandy-Walker complex, and agenesis of the corpus callosum. Ventriculomegaly is easily recognized by ultrasound by measuring the atrial width. This simple measure allows the recognition of mild forms of ventricular dilatation and is used in screening for ventriculomegaly. However, although the diagnosis of ventriculomegaly is easy, the prenatal identification of the cause of ventricular dilatation is a more difficult task. For this purpose the evaluation of the posterior fossa in association with the visualization of the corpus callosum is useful. Research into the causes of ventriculomegaly is clinically useful, since the prognosis mainly depends on the etiology and on the presence of associated abnormalities. In this article the role of prenatal sonography in determining the cause of the ventriculomegaly is reviewed, as well as the prognostic value of the prenatal sonographic findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether there is a relationship between the sonographic fetal thymus size and the presence of an intrauterine infection in patients with preterm labor. Study design: Thirty-one women who had been admitted with preterm labor and intact membranes between 24 and 32 weeks of gestation were included. Fetal thymus perimeter was measured sonographically, and amniocentesis for the microbiologic assessment of the amniotic cavity was performed. Placentas and umbilical cords were examined for the presence of chorioamnionitis/funisitis. Results: The prevalence of preterm delivery and intra-amniotic infection was 51.6% (16/31 women) and 32.3% (10/31 women), respectively. In all cases with intrauterine infection and in 23.8% of cases without intrauterine infection, the fetal thymus perimeter was below the 5th percentile for gestational age (10/10 women vs 5/21 women; P < .01). Isolated histologic chorioamnionitis and funisitis were found in 22.6% and 25.8% of fetuses, respectively. The fetal thymus was below the 5th percentile for gestational age in 100%. 71.4%, and 12.5% of patients with histologic signs of funisitis and isolated chorioamnionitis and without histologic signs of infection, respectively. Conclusion: Fetal thymus involution in preterm labor patients is strongly associated with funisitis, which is the histologic manifestation of the fetal inflammatory response syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses reports within the issue including an update of prenatal screening for microcephaly, consideration of racial variability in human development in fetal ultrasound, and guide to management of prenatally diagnosed fetal head and neck tumors.