Abstract
The prenatal finding of a head circumference (HC) below the 3rd percentile (p) remains, in the same way as short femur or increased nuchal translucency with normal karyotype, one the most difficult situations for the praticionner in the setting of prenatal diagnosis. Microcephaly is a gateway to possible cerebral pathologies, but the main objective is to identify serious prenatal situations. A standardized HC measurement, the use of adapted reference tools and charts, longitudinal following of cephalic biometrics in high-risk situations, and systematic central nervous system analysis can increase the diagnostic performance of ultrasound which is often disappointing for microcephaly. The early distinction between associated or isolated microcephaly makes it possible to quickly orient the prenatal management and counseling. Fetal MRI and genetic counseling are fundamental in this context, making it possible to specify at best the etiological diagnosis and to provide assistance to the neuropediatrician in the establishment of an often uncertain prognosis. The recent increase in cases of microcephaly concomitant with the epidemic of the ZIKA virus is an additional argument to improve our practices and the daily apprehension of HC<3rd p.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
