Table of Contents
What causes ventriculomegaly in fetus?
Ventriculomegaly usually occurs spontaneously. It can happen on its own or be associated with infection, genetic problems or other birth defects, such as spina bifida or heart defects.
Does ventriculomegaly resolve?
If your child has mildly enlarged brain ventricles or ventriculomegaly without other complications, the condition may resolve on its own. When hydrocephalus is more severe or progresses, timely treatment is important.
What is borderline Ventriculomegaly?
5 Borderline ventriculomegaly is defined as an atrial width of 10–15 mm at 15−40 weeks of gestation. Although fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly can be diagnosed relatively easily and accurately using ultrasonography, determi- nation of fetal outcomes is more complicated, and this affects the counseling of mothers.
What is the severity of ventriculomegaly?
Subdivided according to the diameter of the lateral ventricle into mild (10-12 mm), moderate (13-15 mm) and severe (>15 mm). Chromosomal defects, mainly trisomies 21, 18 or 13, are found in 10% of cases. In isolated ventriculomegaly there is a 4-fold increase in risk for trisomy 21. The risk is inversely related to the severity of ventriculomegaly.
What is the meaning of ventriculomegaly?
Ventriculomegaly is an increase in cerebral ventricular dimensions. It could be secondary to increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure in the ventricular cavity (hydrocephalus), or to a lack of brain parenchyma due to atrophic involution or arrested development.
What is mild fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly?
Mild fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly or borderline ventriculomegaly is defined as an axial diameter > 10 mm across the atrium of the posterior or anterior horn of lateral ventricles at any gestation.
How is ventricular ventriculomegaly diagnosed?
Ventriculomegaly is often diagnosed through prenatal ultrasound when the brain ventricles are measured. Sometimes a fetal MRI is also done to give more detailed images. The condition may be found as early as 12 weeks of gestation. It can be monitored during pregnancy with repeated ultrasounds to look for slowly enlarging ventricles.