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Outcome in children with fetal mild ventriculomegaly: a case series
J H Gilmore1, J J van Tol, H Lewis Streicher
1Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7160, USA. jgilmore@css.unc.edu
Insights
Mild lateral ventricle enlargement detected prenatally may indicate future neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD and autism. This early ultrasound finding suggests developmental issues arise during fetal brain development.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Fetal brain development
- Prenatal imaging
Background:
- Mild lateral ventricle enlargement is linked to neurodevelopmental disorders.
- The origin of these abnormalities during fetal development lacks direct evidence.
- Prenatal ultrasound can visualize fetal ventricles.
Observation:
- A follow-up study examined five children with prenatal mild ventriculomegaly (MVM) and two unaffected co-twins.
- Children with MVM were diagnosed with ADHD, autism, or learning disorders.
- Ventricle structure observed in utero persisted into childhood.
Findings:
- Mild lateral ventricle enlargement detected via prenatal ultrasound is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.
- These ventricle abnormalities likely originate during fetal brain development.
- Persistent ventricle enlargement from prenatal to childhood indicates early developmental origins.
Implications:
- Prenatal ultrasound can identify fetuses at risk for neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Studying fetal ventricle development offers insights into conditions like ADHD and autism.
- Early detection may enable timely interventions for affected children.
Abstract:
Mild enlargement of the lateral ventricles is associated with schizophrenia and other neurodevelopmental disorders. While it has been hypothesized that ventricle abnormalities associated with neurodevelopmental disorders arise during fetal brain development, there is little direct evidence to support this hypothesis. Using ultrasound, it is possible to image the fetal ventricles in utero. Fetal mild ventriculomegaly (MVM) has been associated with developmental delays in early childhood, though longer-term neurodevelopmental outcome has not been studied. Follow-up of five children (aged 4--9 years) with mild enlargement of the lateral ventricles on prenatal ultrasound and two unaffected co-twins is reported: one child had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), one had autism, and two had evidence of learning disorders. These cases suggest that the mild enlargement of the lateral ventricles associated with these neurodevelopmental disorders arises during fetal brain development and can be detected with prenatal ultrasound. In addition, the presence of mildly enlarged, asymmetric ventricles in two children on prenatal ultrasound and on follow-up MRI at age 6 years indicates that ventricle structure present in utero can persist well into childhood brain development. The study of fetal ventricle development with ultrasound may provide important insights into neurodevelopmental disorders and allow the identification of children at high risk.
