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Early and late onset fetal microphthalmia
Shraga Blazer1, Etan Z Zimmer, Eedy Mezer
1Department of Neonatology, Rambam Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. blazer@rambam.health.gov.il
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
|May 2, 2006
Summary
Normal fetal eye measurements in early pregnancy do not rule out microphthalmia. This condition can develop later, impacting vision and sometimes leading to pregnancy termination.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Fetal Medicine
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Fetal microphthalmia is a condition affecting eye development.
- Early diagnosis is crucial for management and genetic counseling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail sonographic and pathologic findings of early and late-onset fetal microphthalmia.
- To investigate the diagnostic utility of early-pregnancy ultrasound for microphthalmia.
Main Methods:
- Prospective fetal sonography in 30,989 pregnancies (14-24 weeks' gestation).
- Retrospective review of 4 cases with late-onset microphthalmia diagnosed post-midgestation.
Main Results:
- Microphthalmia detected in 13 fetuses; 12 had associated anomalies, leading to 12 terminations.
- In late-onset cases, early/mid-pregnancy scans showed normal eye measurements.
- Severe vision impairment or blindness occurred in 3 late-onset cases; one pregnancy was terminated.
Conclusions:
- Normal fetal eye size in early to mid-pregnancy does not exclude later development of microphthalmia.
- Late-onset microphthalmia can present after initial normal sonographic findings.
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