Fetal Cerebral Ventriculomegaly: Sonographic Diagnostic Workup

Abstract

Abstract Dilatation of the fetal cerebral ventricles (ventriculomegaly) is a generic sonographic sign, which is common to several pathological entities carrying different prognosis. Ventriculomegaly is easily recognized by ultrasound by measuring the atrial width. This simple measure allows the recognition of even mild forms of ventricular dilatation and is used as a screening method for ventriculomegaly. However, although the diagnosis of ventriculomegaly is easy, the prenatal identification of the cause of ventricular dilatation is a more difficult task. The recognition of associated brain anomalies is a crucial point. The research of the cause of ventriculomegaly is clinically useful, since the prognosis mainly depends on the etiology and on the presence of associated abnormalities. In this article the role of prenatal sonography in recognizing the cause of the ventriculomegaly is reviewed.