Isolated mild fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly: clinical course and outcome

Radiology. 1994 Sep;192(3):759-64. doi: 10.1148/radiology.192.3.7520183.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the outcome of fetuses with isolated mild ventriculomegaly (IMVM).

Materials and methods: The clinical course of 44 fetuses with IMVM was investigated. Cognitive and motor development was classified as normal or delayed.

Results: Clinical data were available for 37 subjects. Three (8%) neonates died. Of the 34 living children, follow-up was limited (< 9 months) in six and the clinical course beyond the 1st year of life was established in 28. Twenty-two (79%) of the 28 children are developing normally, whereas six (21%) are developmentally delayed. More than 90% of fetuses with ventricular atrial diameter of 10-11 mm are normal. Seventy-five percent of fetuses with IMVM were male. With exclusion of the six children with limited follow-up, 78% of boys older than 1 year are developmentally normal compared with only 50% of girls.

Conclusion: The majority of living children with prenatally detected IMVM are developmentally normal, especially those with borderline ventriculomegaly. Gender differences in prevalence and outcome deserve further investigation.

MeSH terms

  • Cerebral Ventricles / abnormalities*
  • Cerebral Ventricles / pathology
  • Child Development
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cognition
  • Developmental Disabilities / etiology
  • Female
  • Fetal Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal*