Prenatal evaluation and postnatal early outcomes of fetal ventriculomegaly

This study aims to determine the incidence, etiology, diagnostic criteria and early outcomes of prenatally diagnosed fetal ventriculomegaly (VM).

Diagnostic criteria for the fetal VM was atrial diameter of lateral ventricle measuring ≥10 mm, independent from gestational age. Results of our patients from ultrasonography (USG), karyotyping, congenital infections, and associated abnormalities were noted. Progress during pregnancy, postnatal USG results and neurobehavioral outcomes were recorded.

In our study, 40 subjects of fetal VM were recorded. 16 and 24 of those were bilateral (40%) and unilateral (60%) respectively. Female to male fetus ratio was 19/21 (0.9). Median gestational age at the diagnosis was 22 weeks (ranging between 16 and 34 weeks). While 21 VM subjects were isolated (52.5%) only 19 of the total were shown associated structural abnormalities in (47.5%) in addition to VM. Toxoplasmosis were diagnosed only in one subject (2.5%). Nineteen subjects had amniocentesis (47.5%) and 2 of them were showed abnormalities (10.5%) as follows; "inversion and duplication 8 (p11.2p23)" and "deletion 3". VM got back in to normal size during pregnancy in 24 subjects (24/40, 60%). Eight pregnancies were terminated (8/40) (20%). Five babies passed away during neonatal and postneonatal period. Some other structural abnormalities were diagnosed after the birth at six babies who classified as mild "isolated" VM.

Our study revealed that amongst mild VM subjects, incidence of associated abnormalities and termination rate were higher. Although most of mild VM subjects are thought to be benign, associated abnormalities should be carefully evaluated and determined pre- and postnatally.