[Prenatal diagnosis of anomalies in the central nervous system]

Anomalies of the central nervous system (CNS) are some of the most common anomalies in the fetus. Severe neural tube defects can be detected by ultrasound in the 1st trimester. An accurate diagnosis at the prenatal ultrasound is essential for parents' prenatal counseling. Since the CNS develops throughout pregnancy, it is important to know the normal anatomy at different gestational ages. Fetal MRI is an important supplement to ultrasound for diagnostic accuracy. Genetic testing with microarray and whole genome sequencing can provide important information on the prognosis as argued in this review.