Prenatal diagnosis and pediatric neurosurgery

Advances in realtime ultrasound imaging and a greater availability of high-quality ultrasound equipment have resulted in an increased number of congenital abnormalities being diagnosed prenatally in the last 10-15 years. In addition, testing for maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein, beta-human chorionic gonadotropin, and serum unconjugated estriol has allowed for more sensitive screening for congenital abnormalities. In response to this, in 1989 the Prenatal Diagnosis and Treatment Center was established at our institution to coordinate the care of fetuses and newborns with congenital malformations and to provide alternatives for the parents should the fetus not be carried to term. From January 1990 through June 1993, our group diagnosed 50 singleton pregnancies with various types of central nervous system disorders by the methods outlined above. Thirty-seven fetuses were diagnosed with neural tube defects. Of these, 5 were anencephalic and 1 had an encephalocele. The remaining 31 fetuses had meningomyeloceles with associated hydrocephalus. Of these 31, 18 fetuses were terminated prior to the age of viability as a result of our counseling and 13 fetuses were brought to term. Of the remaining 13 fetuses, 8 had hydrocephalus and 5 had various other diagnoses. Three of the eight hydrocephalic fetuses were either terminated, stillborn, or died following birth. Of the other 5 fetuses with hydrocephalus, 3 had shunts placed, 1 was followed with normal head growth, and 1 had normal ventricular size at birth. Using the methods available, the accuracy of diagnosis is very high, with only 1 fetus in this series being incorrectly diagnosed. Additionally the advantages of being able to counsel the parents regarding their unborn child allows them to make informed decisions. Accurate prenatal diagnosis plays a major role in the care of the fetus and in counseling parents prenatally for pediatric neurosurgical problems.