Obstetric and neurodevelopmental outcome in fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly

The purpose of this study is to establish the obstetric and early neurological outcomes of fetuses diagnosed with intrauterine ventriculomegaly (VM).

This retrospective study included 27 fetuses with VM diagnosed by ultrasound (US) and referred for in utero magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). US and MRI reports and laboratory test results were obtained including chromosome analysis, congenital infections, and first and second trimester screening tests. Infants were evaluated for clinical outcome for six to 24 months of age.

Twenty (51%) fetuses had mild and 19 (49%) fetuses had severe VM. Accompanying central nervous system (CNS) anomalies were statistically significantly more common in severe VM group. The outcome of mild VM group was statistically significantly better than in the severe VM group.

The authors conclude that ventricular dimension is a significant prognostic factor to detennine the outcome of fetal cerebral VM. The presence of accompanying CNS anomalies is more common with severe VM and may be considered as an unfavorable indicator for a better outcome.