Mild fetal lateral cerebral ventriculomegaly: clinical course and outcome

Infants born with cerebral ventriculomegaly, enlarged ventricles of the brain, usually have a poor prognosis. Estimation of ventricular size by prenatal ultrasound imaging allows counseling of expectant parents. Normally, lateral ventricles have an average diameter of 7.6 millimeters (mm), about one-third inch; ventriculomegaly is suspected if the diameter is 10 mm or more. Severe ventriculomegaly has been well-studied and has a poor prognosis, but the outcome of fetuses with mild ventriculomegaly is not clear. The status of 44 fetuses who were found to have mild ventriculomegaly during prenatal ultrasonography was evaluated in this study. Six of the 44 fetuses had other brain defects, while 11 had non-brain anomalies. Of 12 fetuses who underwent chromosome analyses, five had chromosomal defects, and other abnormal findings detected by ultrasound. Three pregnancies ended in fetal or neonatal death and five were terminated by abortion. Of the 36 living infants, 26 developed normally, while 10 had medical or developmental impairments. Of these 10 children, 5 had only ventriculomegaly. Of all 44 patients, 27 had ventriculomegaly with no other defect; of these, 21 developed normally, 5 were handicapped, and one was aborted. The study suggests that fetuses with mild ventriculomegaly and a normal chromosome profile, have a better prognosis than those with a severe defect. Chromosome and other studies are recommended for fetuses when mild ventriculomegaly is suspected. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)