Evaluation of Intracranial Structures of Fetuses With Congenital Heart Defects.

Abstract

We classified congenital heart defects (CHDs) according to cerebral blood flow oxygenation and aimed to evaluate the effect on the size of brain structures in these fetuses. The study which was designed retrospectively, included 28 patients with fetal CHDs and 76 patients without fetal anomalies. The width and length of the cavum septum pellucidum significantly increased in the CHD group (P=.002, P=.004). The biparietal diameter and z scores were significantly lower in the single ventricle (SV) (P=.006, P=.019), and the head circumference (HC) and z scores were significantly lower in the transposition of great arteries (TGA) (P=.013, P=.038). The transverse cerebellar diameter, the cerebellar HC and the cerebellar hemisphere area values were lower in the SV (P=.005, P=.017, P=.044). Brain structure changes are more pronounced in groups with low cerebral oxygenation, especially in the SV and the TGA.